Sen. Jack Reed, Rep. Seth Magaziner and Rhode Island education leaders gathered Monday to denounce proposed cuts to the U.S. Department of Education, warning that budget cuts would have catastrophic consequences for students, teachers and families in Rhode Island.

Reed and Magaziner both emphasized that the cuts, driven by President Donald Trump and supported by business magnate Elon Musk, would severely harm the state's education system.

Reed said proposals by the Trump administration to dismantle the Department of Education amount to a “war on public education.” He described the administration’s efforts as ideologically driven and said they would harm children, particularly those with disabilities, by stripping away federal funding.

“President Trump has said repeatedly he wants to eliminate the Department of Education, and Project 2025 lays out an attack plan to do just that,” Reed stated.

He condemned such a move as "outrageous," and emphasized the broader economic impact of the proposed cuts, predicting that they would disproportionately affect working families in Rhode Island.

Magaziner echoed Reed’s concerns, pointing to the wider implications of the budget reductions. He criticized the Trump administration for possibly targeting essential services like career training programs and Pell Grants, which help Rhode Island families afford college.

“Without federal support, the public education system in Rhode Island would be crippled,” Magaziner warned, adding that the proposed cuts would devastate the state’s higher education institutions and vital support programs for students with disabilities.

Magaziner also called out what he described as the "incompetence" of the administration’s workforce reductions.

“They just canceled a program that helps high school students with disabilities transition into the workplace,” he said. “It’s wrong, it’s cruel, it’s illegal and it’s incompetent.”

A call to public action

Reed and Magaziner urged Rhode Islanders to take action, to rally public support and push Congress to reject the proposed cuts. Reed called for a concerted effort to prevent the cuts from becoming law, saying it would take Republicans in Congress to recognize the damage the cuts would inflict on American students.

“These cuts are going to hurt our kids and our families,” he said. “We’re going to do everything we can to stop this. But it’s going to take a gargantuan effort.”

The proposed budget cuts are part of a broader $9 trillion reduction in domestic spending that would target not only education but also critical public health agencies. Reed and Magaziner emphasized that these cuts are driven by ideology, not fiscal responsibility.

From elementary school through college, uncertainty

Rhode Island’s education leaders voiced strong concerns over potential cuts to federal education funding. Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green warned that such reductions would harm the state's progress in K-12 and higher education systems.

Infante-Green said about 15% of Rhode Island’s education budget, or $275 million, comes from federal funding, which supports critical programs for low-income students, special education, school nutrition and career training.

“This money goes directly to our school districts,” she said. “If we think we won’t feel the impact, we’re not paying attention.”

She pointed out that Rhode Island is making a faster recovery from pandemic-related learning loss than its New England counterparts, but federal funding cuts could reverse this progress.

“This proposal serves to harm our progress and the foundation of our education system,” she warned. She also emphasized the broader role of the U.S. Department of Education in enforcing laws and ensuring educational safeguards, calling on Rhode Islanders to unite in defense of the state’s education system.

Specific concerns in higher education

Shannon Gilkey, Rhode Island commissioner of postsecondary education, underscored the importance of federal funding in higher education, noting that many students rely on Pell Grants for access to college.

“The research happening right here in Brown University and the University of Rhode Island will change the world,” Gilkey said, citing the need for continued federal support in advancing research and innovation. He also stressed the importance of a skilled workforce, with 67% of jobs by 2030 requiring a credential beyond high school.

Rhode Island College President Jack Warner warned that federal funding cuts could jeopardize the affordability and accessibility of higher education. He described the college's commitment to “affordable excellence,” noting that federal support helps keep tuition fees low, allowing many students to graduate debt-free and contribute to Rhode Island's economy.

“If that gets compromised, it directly affects the number of students who can come to our institution,” Warner said.

Warner also pointed out that Rhode Island College receives additional federal grants to support disabled students and those impacted by COVID-related learning loss.

“We provide workforce training to support our key industries,” he added. “Anything that compromises that can be really difficult for the state of Rhode Island.”

‘Don’t mess with the students of Rhode Island’

Infante-Green added, “We’re going to keep moving forward, because we’re already on the path to success. So please, don’t mess with the students of Rhode Island, because we’re going to be here waiting for you.”

Mary Barden, executive director of the National Education Association of Rhode Island, warned that eliminating the department would drastically harm those from lower-income and rural communities.

"Eliminating the Department of Education is equivalent to giving up on our future. Our students need more opportunities, more resources, and greater protections, not less," Barden said. She explained that proposed cuts would lead to increased class sizes, reduced job training programs, higher education becoming more expensive and special education services withering.

Barden highlighted the widespread benefits of federal funding, noting that 90% of Rhode Island students and 95% of students with disabilities are educated in public schools.

"As a 20-year classroom teacher here in Rhode Island, I know the positive impact the Department of Education’s funding and programs have on all students," she said.

Barden also emphasized the critical role of Title I funds and Pell Grants in providing educational opportunities and supporting students with disabilities in the wake of the pandemic.

Maribeth Calabro, president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers, called the apparent dismantling of the Department of Education a "direct threat to the principles of equity, innovation and national progress." She stressed the department's essential role in ensuring equal access to quality education for all students.

"The American dream was started in the foundation of the Department of Education," Calabro said. "It is instrumental in ensuring that every child has access to a quality public education."

Calabro further warned that the proposed cuts would increase inequities and teacher quality.

"Without federal oversight, students in marginalized communities would face even greater disparities in resources, teacher quality and educational opportunities," she said. Calabro also addressed the threat posed to higher education funding, noting that Pell Grants are crucial to many students' ability to attend college.

Barden and Calabro called on elected officials to prioritize public education and protect federal funding that supports students, families and educators.

"We must resist any attempt to weaken or abolish the Department of Education," Calabro urged. "Our children, our communities, our nation deserve nothing less than a robust and fully supported Department of Education."

RI Kids Count weighs in

Paige Parks, executive director of Rhode Island Kids Count, addressed the potential consequences of proposed federal cuts to education funding among children across the state.

"Rhode Island Kids Count is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health, safety, education and economic wellbeing of Rhode Island children," said Parks. "This is not about politics – this is about Rhode Island’s children and the role federal investments play in their education."

Parks emphasized the role of federal funding for low-income students, who make up 44% of Rhode Island's public school population. Title I funding, which supports these students, allows schools to provide essential academic assistance and specialized programs. Federal funds are particularly vital in urban districts, with Providence, Central Falls, Woonsocket and Pawtucket relying heavily on U.S. Department of Education support. Smaller districts like Newport and Tiverton also receive significant contributions.

Federal funding also supports services for children with disabilities, including funding from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

"Before the pandemic, Rhode Island received about $46 million in IDEA funds, helping more than 22,000 students statewide," Parks said. "Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education would reduce resources for children with disabilities, leaving them at greater risk of falling behind."

The potential loss of federal funding also threatens after-school programs, which are important to academic and social development. Parks said the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program alone provided $6.5 million to Rhode Island in 2024, benefiting more than 5,200 children.

Parks also highlighted the success of Rhode Island’s Career and Technical Education programs, with a graduation rate of 92% – much higher than the state average.

"CTE programs work so well for so many kids. We cannot let these funds be at risk," she said.

Mental-health programs, including training for students and educators, are another critical area supported by the U.S. Department of Education.

"Reducing or eliminating these funds would be harmful to all of our children," Parks warned. She called on Rhode Islanders to advocate for continued federal support for education.

"We must stand up and speak out for our children,” Parks said, “especially for low-income students, children with disabilities, those in after-school programs, CTE students and those facing mental-health challenges.”