Pennsylvania educators rally against federal funding cuts in Mechanicsburg
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. —
Educators in Pennsylvania rallied in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, to protest federal funding cuts they say will harm students and school systems.
Union warns of cuts to student support programs
The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state’s teachers’ union, called attention to funding cuts that have already been passed and shared concerns about the long-term goals of ‘Project 2025,’ a legislative policy framework aimed at restructuring the federal government.
The union said millions of dollars will be lost from programs that support low-income children outside the classroom, including those that fund specialized therapists or aides for children with disabilities and programs that provide school meals.
The group also expressed concerns that federal education funding could be phased out in favor of increased spending at the state level.
PSEA president cites potential loss of $3 billion
Aaron Chapin, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), expressed concerns about the potential loss of $3 billion in annual federal funding for Pennsylvania schools.
“We’re talking about $3 billion that comes on an annual basis from Washington, D.C., to Pennsylvania, and that’s a tremendous amount of money that school districts across the Commonwealth are going to be losing out on,” Chapin said. “We’re going to see increased class sizes. We’re going to see hungry students. We’re going to be seeing students not getting the services that they desperately need to be successful in school.”
Education department disputes claim
The Department of Education responded to these concerns, stating that the claim that returning education authority to the states would cause a total collapse is “blatantly false.”
The statement further emphasized that the Trump administration is committed to preserving and strengthening federal programs and protections that are essential.