‘Robbing Our Students’ Futures’ panel included teacher union leaders
Posted: July 24, 2025
U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) held a spotlight forum on Capitol Hill Thursday, focused on the Trump Administration and Republicans’ continued attacks on K-12 public education programs across the country.
During the forum titled “Robbing Our Students’ Futures: The Indefensible Attacks on Public Education,” Hirono and her Democratic colleagues heard from a panel of witnesses, comprising K-12 educators and education experts, who spoke about the attacks against our nation’s students and public education system.
“President Trump is engaged in an all-out, coordinated attack on public education—from gutting the Department of Education’s workforce, to withholding the department’s funding, to establishing the first-ever national school voucher program, this administration has been working relentlessly to undermine public education and eliminate crucial programs students and families rely on,” Hirono said.
Hirono called the forum “an important step to help inform students and families about the threats this administration poses to our nation’s children and our public schools. I’ll continue working to combat these blatant attacks on our public education system and ensure every child in our country can get a quality, public education.”
Specifically, the forum focused on Trump and Republicans’ attacks on the U.S. Department of Education, including its workforce, as well as proposed cuts in the fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget proposal, FY 2025 impoundments, future rescissions, and school vouchers.
Among those participating in the forum was Princess Moss, vice president of the National Education Association, the largest labor union in the country with approximately 3 million members, and the parent organization of the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association.
“As the Trump Administration continues to attack our nation’s public school students and educators, we must continue to organize, advocate, and mobilize for the public schools our students and neighborhoods deserve,” said Moss.
“Students of every color, background, and ZIP code deserve qualified and caring educators who are dedicated and have the resources to support the passions and potential of every child. That means we must recruit and retain quality educators for our schools across our country. On behalf of America’s educators, we thank Senator Hirono for being a champion for public schools,” Moss added.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, also spoke at the forum.
“I am grateful that the Senate Democrats, led by Senator Hirono, had this hearing today to talk about public schools and our nation’s children,” Weingarten said.
“The full Senate HELP Committee should want to hear firsthand what the administration’s cuts mean for our students, their families and our public schools. They are abandoning the public schools that 90 percent of American children attend to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Instead of defunding public schools, we should be strengthening them, making them safe and welcoming, relevant and engaging—a vision our union is advancing,” said Weingarten.
National Center for Learning Disabilities CEO Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, another forum participant, said, “Federal education and disability laws have shaped opportunity for students with disabilities for over 50 years. But today, the rights and protections we’ve fought hard to secure and the promise of a truly inclusive public education system are under threat. I’m honored to join this spotlight forum to represent K–12 students with learning disabilities and their families and to call attention to the actions that are undermining progress instead of advancing it.”
Hirono was joined by a number of her colleagues at the forum, including Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).