Attorney General Kwame Raoul has responded to the Trump administration’s recent actions involving the U.S. Department of Education. The Department of Education has entered into agreements with several other federal agencies, including the Departments of Labor, State, Health and Human Services, and the Interior. These agreements would transfer six offices from the Department of Education to these other agencies.
Raoul criticized this move, stating: “President Trump and his administration continue to demonstrate a callous disregard for the welfare of students across the United States, and these interagency agreements are unfortunately consistent with the attacks on education that began as soon as President Trump took office. But in Illinois, we are using all tools available to push back against the onslaught of Trump administration actions that harm students and educators and eliminate diversity from our nation’s classrooms.”
He noted that his office is actively pursuing legal action against what he described as unlawful attempts by the administration to dismantle the Department of Education. Raoul also highlighted opposition to reductions in workforce and programs within the department that led to closing a Chicago branch of the Office of Civil Rights. He mentioned efforts against removing reporting requirements intended to prevent disproportionate identification for special education or discipline among students of color.
Raoul added: “We even temporarily blocked the Department of Education from eliminating congressionally-approved funding to expand vital K-12 mental health programs. My office has also supported legal challenges to the elimination of federal grant funding that helps low-income, first-generation, disabled and underrepresented students access higher education.” He further stated support for teachers by filing a lawsuit regarding teacher preparation grants.
“My office will not be deterred in our fight for the thousands of Illinois students and educators who are betrayed by a Department of Education that is dismantling itself and abandoning its mission,” Raoul said.
