Donald Trump is playing political games with Nevada’s public education by threatening to sign an executive order to abolish the Department of Education, impacting hundreds of thousands of Nevada students, especially the most at-risk students. If Trump and Republicans have their way and abolish the Department of Education, it would undo critical funding for Nevada public schools, special education programs, community colleges, Pell Grants, career and technical education, and other essential services for Nevada students.

Over the last five years, Nevada students and schools have been supported by the U.S. Department of Education with nearly $6 billion in critical funding totaling. That includes support for homeless children, rural and special education programs, and aid to help low-income students seek higher education. From 2023 to today, Department of education funding for key programs includes:

-- $315 million in special education programs 

-- $3.5 million to the education of homeless children.  

-- $1.4 million for rural education programs 

-- $621 million in federal Pell Grant funding to aid low-income students attain higher education

-- $38 million for career and technical education programs

Nevada State Democratic Party Spokesperson Tai Sims:

“Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s reckless plan to abolish the Department of Education would devastate Nevada’s public schools and disproportionately impact at-risk students and those with special needs. Nevadans know we can’t afford any more of Republicans’ political games. If Joe Lombardo wants to call himself the ‘education governor,’ he needs to stand up for Nevada students against the destruction of the Trump administration.”