SIGN: Republicans are attempting to defund public education

The proposed budget would devastate public schools and students.

This is a critical moment to demand Congress stop attacks on public education and our students—sign the petition! Dear MoveOn member, Right now, Republicans in Congress are racing to implement the very worst of Trump's vision for public education into the reconciliation budget bill—and time is running out to make our voices heard.1 Since coming into office, Donald Trump has been set on defunding and destroying public education, from firing half of the Department of Education staff to threatening educators who teach DEI. If Republicans succeed in implementing Trump's plan, millions of students—especially those from low-income families, in rural communities, students with disabilities, and English language learners—will lose funding for their public schools and access to the quality education they deserve. And for what? To pay for yet more tax breaks for billionaires. This has been their plan all along—to slash spending on health, education, and other safety net programs to make themselves richer. But we aren't going to take it! Will you sign Public School Strong's petition demanding that Congress protect our students and public schools? Medicaid, SNAP, and coercive vouchers are all on the line, and it's critical that Congress know our position. Our children's future depends on strong, well-funded public schools! It's crunch time for the Republican reconciliation budget bill, and the vital services and programs our schools—and our children—rely on are at risk. Included in their plan is gutting Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as implementing a universal voucher program. The GOP's tax-shelter voucher scheme would divert $20 billion from public schools to private and religious schools that are not accountable to the public or families.2 It would also deprive students with disabilities of important legal rights and protections. Rural areas, where public schools are economic centers, would be hit especially hard. Medicaid is the fourth-largest funding source for K-12 public schools, and Republicans want to cut it.3 These critical funds help pay for school-based services that benefit the entire student population—health care, as well as educators' salaries and the services of professionals like nurses, psychologists, and audiologists. SNAP helps feed more than 42 million Americans—40% of whom are children who are eligible for free school meals.4 Proposals to cut SNAP would mean children would lose access to school meals and go hungry, threatening their health and education.5 Add your name to the petition. Public schools are the foundation of our democracy, ensuring that every child—no matter their ZIP code, race, or background—has the opportunity to learn and thrive. Defunding public education only benefits private interests while leaving our communities behind. We cannot let this happen. Republican leadership is pushing to pass this disastrous budget as soon as possible. We must sound the alarm on the catastrophic impacts these cuts will have on public schools and students. Together, we can make it clear to all members of Congress that we support robust funding for our students and schools. Sign and share our petition today. Now is the time to keep up the pressure! Thanks for all you do. –Public School Strong Sources: 1. "Fight over Medicaid cuts heats up as House Republicans release bill," NBC News, May 12, 2025 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/fight-medicaid-cuts-heats-house-republicans-release-bill-rcna206210 2. "Proposal for a National Voucher Program," NEA, April 8, 2025 https://www.nea.org/resource-library/proposal-national-voucher-program 3. "Proposal to Slash Medicaid and CHIP," NEA, April 8, 2025 https://www.nea.org/resource-library/proposal-slash-medicaid-and-chip 4. "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - Key Statistics and Research," USDA, January 6, 2025 https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/key-statistics-and-research 5. "Budget Reconciliation Update: Cuts to SNAP are Cuts to School Meals," Food Research & Action Center, May 2, 2025 https://frac.org/blog/budget-reconciliation-update-cuts-to-snap-are-cuts-to-school-meals Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your ongoing support, now more than ever. Will you stand with us? If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: Donate: $5 monthly Donate: $15 monthly Donate: $50 monthly Donate another amount monthly Or make a one-time gift Contributions to MoveOn Civic Action are not tax-deductible for income tax purposes. MoveOn.org Civic Action - PO Box 96141, Washington, D.C. 20090-6141. ActBlue Civics Inc. is the merchant of record for all transactions made to MoveOn Civic Action using the ActBlue platform. ActBlue Civics Inc. receives and processes these donations before disbursing them to MoveOn Civic Action within 30 days of receipt. 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