The Trouble Between Trump and the States on Education Policy

President Trump has ordered cuts to the Department of Education and federal education funding. The brunt of these cuts will likely fall on low-income communities. The president is also demanding changes to school services and curricula, including the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. 

State courts and constitutions stand in the president’s way. States are required by their constitutions to provide a  public education, and many must meet certain standards, teach certain curricula, and provide student services. In cases where these state obligations conflict with the administration’s orders, both state and federal judges may be called on to decide whether state law provides a bulwark against harmful federal policies. This conversation among experts explores how the Trump administration’s actions have affected schools, how schools are responding, and how court fights over education policy may play out. 

Speakers:

• John B. King Jr., Former U.S. Secretary of Education; Chancellor of the State University of New York

• Aaron Saiger, Professor of Law, Fordham University

• Martha Dalton, Journalist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• Moderator: Alicia Bannon, Director, Brennan Center Judiciary Program; Editor in Chief, State Court Report

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Recorded on July 15, 2025, and produced in partnership with State Court Report.

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