Statement From John B. King, CEO and President of The Education Trust on Trump’s “Skinny” Budget

WASHINGTON (03/16/17) – Today, John B. King, CEO and President of The Education Trust issued this statement on the release of the Trump administration’s “skinny” budget.

“On the campaign trail and during his first two months in office, President Trump stressed the importance of ‘getting Americans back to work’ and investing in America. Despite this rhetoric, the administration’s “skinny” budget released today would do the opposite.

“Cuts to financial aid programs, including draconian cuts to the Pell Grant program, abandoning teacher support and development programs, and an ill-advised (and previously rejected) scheme to divert resources from our highest need schools would move our country backward. They would hurt low-income students trying to pay for college and prepare themselves for the workforce, educators seeking to improve their skills to better serve our nation’s young people, and the very schools responsible for educating our nation’s most vulnerable students.

“If this proposal were enacted, all students, particularly students of color and low-income students, throughout the entire continuum of our education system would suffer, as would the nation’s businesses who desperately need a skilled workforce to be successful.

“We call on Congress to reject this harmful proposal outright and to truly invest in America’s future by supporting what we know will move our nation forward: ensuring that there are equitable opportunities for all children to learn, that students leave high school prepared for college and career, that school districts and teachers get the resources they need to improve, and that all young people, especially those from low-income families, are supported to go to college and earn a degree. The Education Trust stands ready to assist in that effort.”