Public Money, Private Pockets – Federal Voucher Tax Write Off

A federal voucher program, the first of its kind, sounds too good to be true—because it is. The program is designed to shift money away from public schools into private schools and unaccountable systems. This creates a lack of resources in public schools, meaning fewer teachers, outdated textbooks, and underfunded programs for the students who need them most. What’s being labeled as parents’ choice, is really no choice at all. Unlike public schools, private schools can deny a student for any reason, leaving the door open for discrimination for students of color and students with disabilities. And very few rural students even have a private school near them. And once again, this voucher program subsidizes the wealthy by giving rich parents yet another tax break.

Debt by Design – Less College Access & Bigger Student Loans

Starting August 1st, current and former students will have to start paying their student loans back — on average, payments will cost $200-$300 more a month, and the government can start garnishing wages and social security for those in default. This isn’t fiscal responsibility; it’s a calculated federal transfer of wealth — benefiting millionaires while everyday Americans pay the price. It’s not just unfair—it’s a heist. Also, with colleges like Columbia and Brown Universities capitulating to Trump’s demands to share admissions data, it robs students of color and students from low-income background the opportunities to follow their higher education dreams. What’s more, limits and caps to student loans will force more students to take out private loans or forgo college or grad school altogether.

Disappearing Data – Erasing Crucial Data & Research

Education data is power. It reveals gaps, guides resources, and holds institutions accountable — without bias. But when the administration suppresses data collection, underfunds research, or blocks transparency and public access, they’re not being neutral — they’re covering their tracks. This is a strategic erasure of the truth, designed to keep the public in the dark. Without data, we can’t demand justice. That’s not just negligence—it’s part of the heist. As the administration continues to cut funding for education research or limits public access to school data, they make it harder to identify injustices or hold anyone accountable. Without data, the most vulnerable students disappear from the conversation. And you can’t fix what you can’t see. But maybe that’s the point.

Reverse Robin Hood – Stealing from Families, Students & Taxpayers

From the introduction of vouchers and the cap on student loans, to the gutting of essential social programs, all Americans will be affected by the cruel decisions made by the Trump administration. The only people who stand to benefit from this new budget are white, wealthy families and big corporations. Services like SNAP and Medicaid are being gutted to fund a tax cut for the rich, leaving everyday Americans in the lurch. Nearly 4 million children could lose access to food, and more than 18 million students could lose access to free meals. And 14 million people could lose their health insurance.

Photo by Logan Voss on Unsplash

The Bigly Budget Bust – The 2026 Trump Budget

The proposed FY26 budget decimates education priorities and harms students irrevocably. Trump’s budget would cut education funding by 15%, lowering the level of investment to less than it was 15 years ago. It consolidates and cuts 18 K-12 programs into a new $2 billion formula grant that represents a $4.5 billion (69%) cut. This consolidation means there would be no more programs for training teachers and school leaders, migrant students, or English learners. It freezes the main Title I grant and eliminates all other Title I programs, which are designed to deliver assistance to the schools serving the highest amounts of students from low-income backgrounds. And for aspiring college students, the budget cuts the maximum Pell Grant, which is the keystone of federal student aid for college students from low-income backgrounds, by almost $1,700 (22%). The devil is in the details, so learn what’s at stake for our nation’s students.