Attorney General Bonta Slams President Trump’s Executive Order to Dismantle U.S. Department of Education

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Bonta today issued the following statement on President Trump’s executive order attempting to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education:

“The Trump Administration knows, and even acknowledges, that the President cannot eliminate the U.S. Department of Education without Congressional approval. Yet it continues to do everything it can to destroy the Department’s ability to carry out its most vital, congressionally-mandated functions – with the clearly stated ‘final mission’ of shuttering the Department for good. 

“My office will be looking at what this executive order actually does – not what the President says it will do. We will be monitoring closely to see how the President’s instructions to Education Secretary McMahon translate into concrete actions. 

“Rest assured: I will not let President Trump’s reckless efforts to fulfill his campaign promises come at the expense of the health, education, and well-being of our kids. I will not stand by when the President breaks the law. 

“Last week, we sued the Trump Administration over the mass firing of Department of Education workers – another step in its end goal of dismantling the Department from within. And we will continue to take all necessary legal action to protect the rights of students in California and across the nation.”