AFT President Randi Weingarten Blasts Republican Attempts to Gut Federal Spending for Public Education and Ignore the Needs of the Healthcare Workforce

Press Release

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WASHINGTON-AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after the Republican-led Appropriations Committee released its fiscal year 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies funding bill:

"It is unconscionable that congressional Republicans are taking pride in attacking working families and gutting spending for public schools by releasing and promoting this divisive funding plan. Their proposal would deprive millions of students-especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and Black and brown communities-of the resources and support they need to learn and thrive.

"Kids need more, not less, resources. But instead of building our schools, Republicans want to destroy them-by slashing Department of Education resources by $11 billion, including deep cuts to Title I grants, support for teachers, mental health supports, English language learners, community schools, early childhood education, and career and technical education programs. Their agenda flies in the face of our nation's founding principle that every child-regardless of income or ZIP code-deserves a high-quality education.

"At the same time, whether through private equity ownership, hospital consolidation or budget cuts, healthcare workers continue to experience impossible working conditions. The subcommittee's 'solution' is to remove funding for healthcare workforce training, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, maternal and child health programs, and suicide and opioid overdose prevention.

"And it's not just K-12 education and healthcare: The Republican plan targets women, worker protection, Social Security, retirees and the elderly, and adults seeking higher education to better themselves and their families.

"We must stand together to fight this callous and craven attempt to erode the public good-and advocate instead for real solutions to strengthen and expand it."

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The AFT represents 1.7 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.