Illinois Gov. Pritzker warns eliminating Department of Education could harm students

CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker addressed the Trump administration’s potential elimination of the Department of Education saying the move would devastate students across Illinois.

“Students in rural communities who rely on federal funding to keep their schools open, students with disabilities and special needs who receive additional support in their classrooms, low income students who depend on Pell Grants to earn their college degrees, all will be affected,” Pritzker said.

During President Trump’s campaign, he called for states to take over the role of managing money for the groups Pritzker mentioned, instead of the federal government.

Trump accused the department of “indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual and political material.”

A draft of the executive order reportedly directed Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure.”