CGS Statement on the Executive Order Dismantling the Department of Education
CGS Contact: Kelley Karnes
602-791-8278 / kkarnes@cgs.nche.edu
PDF version of press release
Washington, DC — The Council of Graduate Schools is deeply concerned by the Trump Administration’s Executive Order to dismantle the Department of Education, which serves a critical role in delivering programs that benefit current and future graduate students.
The Department has been essential at overseeing student financial aid and Direct Student Loan Programs that have made obtaining a master’s or doctoral degree possible, helping to create the nation’s school counselors, nurses, engineers, public health officials, librarians and national security experts, to name a few.
A loss of the committed Department staff who administer the programs and the infrastructure that makes their timely distribution possible would seriously compromise the quality of graduate programs and the success of Americans who are pursuing their graduate degrees.
Congressional action will be required to dismantle the Department. We call on CGS members to work with their government relations staff to communicate the vital importance of Department programs that support the success of graduate students and future professionals who provide valuable services across the nation.
Graduate education is the backbone of the American workforce and CGS urges the Trump Administration to work with the higher education community to invest in programs that improve access to graduate education, so the U.S. remains a global competitor.
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About CGS
The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is an organization of approximately 460 institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada engaged in graduate education, research, and the preparation of candidates for advanced degrees. The organization’s mission is to improve and advance graduate education, which it accomplishes through advocacy in the federal policy arena, research, and the development and dissemination of best practices.