Republicans attack public schools. Trump is no exception

We must recognize the danger of education falling victim to political rhetoric. And we must continue to fight for equal access to education, not weaponize it.

Former President Donald Trump used public education as a weapon in his campaign for the White House and continues to fight against it DEI programs and even threaten it close the Ministry of Education.

He’s not alone.

The Republican Party has consistently attacked public schools and teachers unions while promoting vouchers and other initiatives that drain resources from classrooms. The idea of the closure of the Ministry of Education has been a rallying cry of the Republican Party for decades.

I recently got one interview with Trump on “Fox & Friends” in which he claimed, “We’re going to take the Department of Education, close it down, I’m going to close it down.”

Trump’s vow reflects a broader agenda, as outlined in the Project 2025 of the Heritage Foundationaimed at reducing federal oversight of education and limiting government spending on essential services.

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Republicans have long criticized the Department of Education

The Ministry of Education was established in 1979 during President Jimmy Carter’s administration to help improve access to education and increase federal funding for schools.

Republicans criticized its creation, claiming it was an overreach of the federal government’s role and an expansion of the bureaucracy.

Although efforts to disband the department have been unsuccessful, the idea of disbanding the department keeps alive the small-government rhetoric the Republican Party used during election season.

Republicans argue that the federal presence in education stifles creativity, inflates spending and undermines local government.

Federal oversight helps ensure equity in education

But the federal government education funding provided that includes student loans, special education grants and Title I dollars for schools serving low-income students.

Closing the department could potentially take away billions of dollars in federal money that school districts rely on.

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Since its inception, the department has enforced civil rights laws in education and ensured that students with disabilities, minorities, and other marginalized groups receive equal treatment and opportunity.

Eliminating that oversight would remove federal protections for these groups and lead to greater inequality in our nation’s public schools.

As Americans, we must recognize the danger of education falling victim to political rhetoric. And we must continue to fight for equal access to education, not weaponize it.

Marla Bautista is a fellow military columnist at USA TODAY Opinion.