U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono recently addressed the Senate floor, criticizing efforts by President Trump and Republicans to dismantle the Department of Education and cut federal funding for key educational programs. Hirono expressed concern over plans to eliminate support for low-income students, schools, students with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness.
"Despite their promises to make life better for working Americans, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their billionaire buddies have set their sights on gutting support for public education," stated Senator Hirono. She highlighted that these actions would affect 49,000 Title I schools nationwide, including 170 in Hawaii.
Senator Hirono emphasized the significance of national school lunch and breakfast programs managed by the Department of Education (ED), which provide meals to nearly 30 million children across 95,000 schools daily. In response to proposed budget cuts by Senate Republicans, she announced her intention to introduce amendments with Senator Gary Peters aimed at safeguarding public schools and associated services.
"Every single state has thousands of children who rely on the school meals paid for by the federal government," continued Hirono. "For many kids, school meals are the only meals they can count on all day."
Hirono criticized what she described as a focus on benefiting billionaires at the expense of essential educational programs. "We have no business depriving our kids of lunch to fund massive giveaways for Trump and his billionaire buddies," she concluded.
The full transcript of Senator Hirono’s speech is available alongside a video recording.