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cover of episode Every Child Left Behind feat. Sec. John King

Every Child Left Behind feat. Sec. John King

2025/3/12
logo of podcast What A Day

What A Day
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B
Brian Summers
J
Jane Koston
J
John King
L
Linda McMahon
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Jane Koston: 我主持了讨论教育部大规模裁员及其影响的节目。我介绍了教育部裁员的背景，并采访了前教育部长John King，探讨了裁员对不同教育项目的潜在影响，例如针对低收入学生、残疾学生和Pell Grant项目的资金。我还讨论了Linda McMahon关于裁员的声明，以及特朗普政府试图关闭教育部的意图。 John King: 我认为教育部大规模裁员对学生和家庭来说将是灾难性的。这将导致学校经费减少，班级规模扩大，教师被解雇，课外活动减少，以及为残疾学生提供的服务减少。这将对美国教育体系的公平性和质量产生严重影响。联邦政府在确保教育公平方面发挥着关键作用，而教育部的裁员将削弱这一作用。在奥巴马政府时期，两党在教育问题上能够达成共识，但如今的政治环境已经发生了变化。 Linda McMahon: 我认为教育部大规模裁员是朝着恢复美国教育体系伟大的一大步。总统的指示是关闭教育部，但这需要与国会合作才能实现。

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The Trump administration announced significant layoffs in the Department of Education, sparking concern and criticism from former Education Secretary John King. The cuts may undermine the agency's ability to support vulnerable students and uphold civil rights in education.
  • The Department of Education laid off around 1,300 employees, half of its workforce.
  • Trump's administration aims to reduce the department's influence, possibly as a step towards shutting it down.
  • John King, former Education Secretary, warns that the cuts could severely impact students, especially those from low-income backgrounds and those with disabilities.
  • The federal government plays a vital role in providing equitable education funding and protecting students' civil rights.
  • The dismantling of the Department of Education could backfire by compromising the country's economic competitiveness and national security.
  • Education is primarily state-controlled, but federal support is crucial for equity.
  • The Trump administration's actions may bypass congressional approval, raising legal concerns.

Shownotes Transcript

The Department of Education announced Tuesday it would lay off around 1,300 employees, or about half of its workforce. In a statement, Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the job cuts part of the agency's 'final mission,' and a 'significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.' While President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to shutter the Education Department, McMahon said during her confirmation hearings last month that she wouldn't do so without Congress's approval. The layoffs could signify the administration's intent to gut the agency from within. John King, who served as Education Secretary under former President Barack Obama, talks about how the cuts will almost certainly hurt students. 

Later in the show, Brian Sumers, who writes 'The Airline Observer' newsletter on Substack, explains why Southwest Airlines is nixing its popular free bag check policy.

And in headlines: House Republicans and one Democrat passed a spending plan to avert a government shutdown, Trump administration officials said they would immediately lift a pause on military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, and President Trump weighed in on the fate of a Columbia University grad student who's facing deportation for organizing pro-Palestine protests on campus.

Show Notes: