EXCLUSIVE: The Insider Account of Education's Collapse under Trump

Jason Cottrell

worked at the Department of Education for years because he believed that his work made the lives of kids — and their families —better. When he and at least a thousand of his colleagues were walked out, whatever doubts he had that Trump was trying to kill the Dept. were erased.

Sheria Smith is the President of the AFGE Local 252, the union that represents Jason and all those “reduced” by Trump. Even before Trump took office, she knew what was coming. The plan to destroy public education had been written about pretty clearly in Project 2025. It wasn’t a secret.

The two of them joined

Sam Osterhout

to speak out. What’s going on at the Department of Ed is also taking place across the government. Your children will be worse off because of it.

Check out their conversation and let us know what you think. One point we try to make here is that the Dept. of Ed isn’t some nebulous, mysterious organization run by elite deep-staters. The people who work there are educators, Americans — your neighbors — and the work they do has a huge impact on the kind of education your kids receive.

We want to know, as we all gear up to send our kids back to school, if you’re seeing an impact where you live. Let us know!

For more on Jason’s and Sheria’s story, visit afge2523ed.org.

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