We will not be silenced: Saving the Education System of America 

Columbia University is currently at the center of a deeply troubling attack on student rights. The Trump administration recently stripped the university of over $400 million in federal funding, citing its alleged failure to crack down on antisemitism amid student protests over Israel’s war on Hamas. While the Manhattan district attorney’s office decided not to pursue charges against “31 of the 46 people initially arrested,” the “students still faced disciplinary hearings and possible expulsion from the university.” Despite these actions, the Trump administration went ahead with defunding Columbia. In response, the university announced it would revoke the degrees of several students who had participated in the occupation of Hamilton Hall.  

Historically, student protest has been a vital force for change in America — whether against segregation, the Vietnam War or apartheid in South Africa. As Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, pointed out, these students “were technically violating the law when [they] refused the order to disperse,” yet “we celebrate those students today.” The same First Amendment rights that protected those past movements apply to the student protests at Columbia. By revoking federal funds and pressuring the university to punish protesters, the Trump administration reveals a dangerous willingness to silence dissent through fear, coercion and unconstitutional overreach. 

This is not an isolated incident of federal overreach. Under Donald Trump’s leadership, the government is actively weaponizing education policy by not only punishing schools, but also threatening to dismantle critical support systems like the Department of Education. Eliminating the DOE would be devastating. The federal agency provides financial aid, enforces Title IX civil rights protections, supports HBCUs and HSIs and funds educational research. Without it, low-income students, students with disabilities and other marginalized groups could lose access to essential opportunities and protections.  

Trump has already targeted higher education, most notably in the case of Columbia, where he called for the university to be defunded after students protested and expressed political views he opposed. This wasn’t a neutral policy decision — it was a direct retaliation against students’ right to free speech. And the effects of this approach don’t stop at college campuses. When a former president uses federal influence to punish institutions for allowing protest, it sends a clear message: expressing dissent may cost you your education. That message trickles down, creating a culture of fear that affects not only college students but also teachers and young people in primary and secondary schools. 

 These attacks come at a time when the education system is already under immense strain — with recent data showing that “most fourth and eighth graders in 2024 are still performing below pre-pandemic 2019 levels in both reading and math.” Now is not the time to withdraw federal support. Students, especially those who are already struggling, need more investment, not less. When Trump threatens to defund education in response to free expression, he is undermining both academic recovery and one of the most fundamental rights in a democracy. Protecting education means protecting the right to speak freely. And that has to start at every level, from kindergarten classrooms to college campuses.  

To prevent this kind of political retaliation from damaging schools and students, we need a fundamental restructuring of power in the education system. Currently, federal funding and influence is being weaponized against institutions that refuse to conform to political demands, threatening academic freedom, student activism and the core values of democracy. The implementation of structural safeguards is crucial now to insulate both K- 12 and higher education from partisan pressure with independent oversight boards reviewing funding decisions, increasing legal protections for students and educators engaged in peaceful protest and establishing clearer boundaries that prevent federal funding from being tied to political ideology. 

This shift is not just about protecting universities but instead about safeguarding education at every level. There is an academic crisis unfolding in elementary and secondary schools and it is a clear example of why federal support is still essential. With national test scores showing an alarming drop between 2019 and 2024, now is the time to invest in evidence-based interventions like high-dosage tutoring, after-school programming and mental health support — not to dismantle the very department responsible for helping fund them.  

The Department of Education must be strengthened, not shut down. It is crucial in ensuring access and equity, especially for students with disabilities, English language learners, and those from low-income backgrounds. While states and local districts manage daily school operations, the federal government should serve as a stabilizing force by offering resources, research funding and rights-based enforcement without political interference. 

Ultimately, rebalancing educational power isn’t about erasing federal influence. It’s about protecting students from the consequences of political retaliation. Whether a college protester or a struggling fourth grader, every student deserves an education that is free from fear, grounded in equity and backed by systems that prioritize their success over any politician’s agenda.