PSRP enews | March 2025

Robbing Peter to pay for Elon’s tax cuts

President Donald Trump’s deep cuts to essential services threaten millions of Americans—from students and veterans to older Americans and people with disabilities—all to fund tax breaks for billionaires like Elon Musk. In her latest column, AFT President Randi Weingarten shares how the Trump administration is slashing education funding, weakening Social Security and Medicaid, and gutting agencies that ensure food safety, disease prevention and national security. We’re fighting back. Tell Congress: No cuts to education! We must reject this betrayal of working people and demand public services for everyone, not just the wealthy.

Less school funding exactly where we need more

Special education paraprofessional William Schwandt explains why he’s deeply alarmed about federal money for public education, science and health programs being withheld by the Trump administration. He’s also deeply concerned about the funding cuts Congress pushed through—including reductions in Social Security Administration staffing, veterans’ care, rural internet access and family housing. These cuts will have serious consequences. However, his primary focus remains on education, where we are seeing a concerted effort to strip away federal support and accountability. Read about it in AFT Voices.

Why we fight: Opportunity for all kids

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week attempting to eliminate the federal role in education—a move that most people in America don’t want because it would diminish opportunity for students. As a union of educators, healthcare professionals and public employees, we know the importance of ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive—and that’s why AFT President Randi Weingarten responded simply by saying, “See you in court.”

Defunding the Education Department: A special ed perspective

Some people believe that eliminating the federal Department of Education, which administers funding for the special education programs mandated by law, means kids without disabilities will get a better education, Kentucky paraeducator Dan Isenstein writes in AFT Voices. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Click here to find out why.

Watch highlights from the AFT’s Day of Action

AFT members and allies turned out for more than 2,000 actions throughout the country on March 4 as part of the AFT’s Protect Our Kids Day of Action to fight back against cruel and irresponsible attacks on federal education programs by President Donald Trump and his henchman Elon Musk. Participants called on lawmakers to protect our kids against dismantling the Education Department, which would hurt millions of students to fund tax cuts for billionaires. Watch the highlight reel here.

Register: Strategies for ‘mandated support’

Sign up now for a free AFT webinar, “Mandated Support: New Strategies for Compassionate Support in Schools” to be held tomorrow, March 25, 4-5 p.m. EDT. Webinar leaders will review research on mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect, including its relationship to public education and how educators think about this required intervention, with key points from the new AFT publication “Nobody Wins.” Then, learn more about mandated support, including evidence-based strategies to address child maltreatment that elevate compassion, effective prevention and well-being. The webinar is part of the 2025 Share My Lesson Virtual Conference, which also starts tomorrow.

Medicaid cuts could devastate communities

Schools, hospitals and communities could face devastating consequences if Congress moves forward with plans to cut Medicaid funding by $880 billion, according to union leaders, healthcare workers and educators. The proposed cuts—part of a broader federal budget plan—would directly threaten access to healthcare for millions of Americans, including children, older Americans, low-income families, and people with disabilities. The AFT is urging members and the public to contact their representatives and demand they protect Medicaid. In addition, resources are available to help members on the AFT’s Protect Medicaid page.