'DOGE bags in Washington': Gov. Pritzker addresses Illinois educators on federal education cuts
Pritzker pushes back on Trump’s education cuts
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is speaking out against former President Donald Trump’s push to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a move that has already resulted in more than 1,300 employees being laid off.
CHICAGO - The U.S. Department of Education's staffing was nearly halved when just over 1,300 employees were informed they would be let go.
On Thursday, the Illinois Education Association held its annual three-day conference, and with all the talk of potential defunding of the department, some local educators are concerned.
Pritzker Weighs In on Federal Education Cuts
What we know:
Gov. JB Pritzker addressed more than 1,200 educators at the IEA conference, discussing concerns over federal funding cuts to schools.
That amounts to about $3.5 billion for schools statewide, a sum Pritzker acknowledged the state cannot replace.
Teachers said urban and rural districts will feel the most impact, particularly for marginalized students who rely on school meals, special education support, and other resources that would be affected by a reduction in the Department of Education’s services.
What they're saying:
"DOGE bags in Washington. Sorry, I may have misspelled that," Pritzker touted. "They hate that we're succeeding in Illinois. They just hate it. It drives them absolutely crazy, and I love that it does."
Pritzker also highlighted improvements in math and reading scores for eighth graders, noting the state’s graduation rate is the highest it’s been in 14 years.
What's next:
On Thursday night, the National Education Association will meet virtually to discuss how to respond to the cuts within the Department of Education.