WORCESTER—President-elect Donald Trump’s Agenda47 proposal to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education could have significant implications for cities and towns across the nation that rely on federal education funding.
In Worcester’s case, the potential loss amounts to $44 million annually, according to Mayor Joseph Petty. This includes $17 million from the USDA for free lunch programs and $27 million for Title I and other initiatives critical to supporting low-income students and teacher training.
“There is some state funding available for the lunch program, but we haven’t asked for that yet since we are fully funded by the feds,” Petty told the Worcester Guardian. “If the Department of Education is eliminated, we’d lose that funding unless it comes from another agency.”
The Department of Education, created in 1979, manages $238 billion annually, including programs critical to towns and cities like Worcester such as special education funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Title I funding for low-income schools.
Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez highlighted the potential challenges ahead, stating, “WPS is dedicated to fostering an inclusive learning environment where every child can thrive academically and emotionally.”
Worcester Public Schools are already facing significant financial hurdles. The district’s 2025 budget proposal addresses a $22 million funding gap, which includes eliminating 86 classroom teaching positions and 22 administrative roles. Local officials argue that losing additional federal funding would exacerbate these issues, especially for special education programs and low-income students.
The student loan system could face several changes under the proposal. Current data shows that nationally Black families hold the highest amount of student loan debt compared to other groups, suggesting any changes to loan programs could disproportionately affect these communities.
More specifically, African-American students make up 17.4% of Worcester’s district, with Latinos making up 46.0% of the district, according to 2023-2024 enrollment data. Additionally, teacher shortages could worsen if Title I funding for hiring and retention is reduced.
School Committee Member Molly McCullough emphasized the importance of federal support, saying, “We have to make decisions utilizing data. Over the past few years, I’ve continued to see more and more impressive things going on in our classrooms, engaging students in learning and preparing them to be future-ready.”
On a national level, the proposal would require congressional approval, needing 60 votes in the Senate—an unlikely hurdle given the current political divide. Trump’s push to close the department stems from long-standing Republican arguments that education should be left to states and local governments. Critics maintain that dismantling the agency would disrupt key programs and diminish civil rights protections in education.
For Worcester, the stakes are high. Petty stressed the need for continued advocacy and planning. “We have a very good strategic plan. We’re going to continue advocating for more funding for the schools and build a brand new Burncoat High School and Burncoat Middle School.”
“Let’s continue working together to make WPS a national model of excellence, inclusiveness, and engagement,” said Monárrez.
Matt Olszewski is a freelance content and news writer based in Boston, MA. In his free time, Matt enjoys running, hiking or skiing. Matt just graduated with his MPH from Tufts University. He can be reached at mattoskier@gmail.com
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