With the recent conclusion of another chaotic Kentucky legislative session and amidst an onslaught of early Trump administration actions, one thing is clear to us here at Manual RedEye: our leaders, at both the state and national levels, do not have students’ best interests at heart. Time and time again, politicians in Frankfort and in Washington have continued to put partisan agendas ahead of educational opportunities. 

On April 5, protesters in all 50 states came out to participate in “Hands Off!” rallies and voice their concerns about the actions of the current presidential administration. They called for Trump to take his hands off national parks, off healthcare, off the border and more. Now, we join in their cry and call for hands off our education.

On Jan. 21, President Donald Trump’s executive order entitled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” took a stab at a system that fosters inclusivity and challenges young minds to question established beliefs. Trump’s action revokes E.O. 14035, issued by President Biden as an executive order focused on strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within federally funded institutions. This new order now forces federal agencies to terminate federal contracts and grants related to DEI, removing funding. In addition to calling out federal agencies, corporations and financial institutions, the executive order also directly mentions institutions of higher education. Since the order’s passage, many colleges and universities have had to dec ide between staying true to their values of equity and inclusion or risk losing federal funding for research and other projects.

The attack on DEI initiatives was echoed at the state level as well. On March 13, the legislature passed House Bill (HB) 4, an act that bans DEI initiatives at colleges and universities in Kentucky. The republican supermajority easily overturned the Governor’s veto of the bill on March 27. HB 4 prohibits post-secondary institutions in the state from “providing differential treatment or benefits on the basis of an individual’s religion, race, sex, color, or national origin.” Under the guise of rooting out discrimination, all the bill really does is take away vital resources from the students who need them most and further educational divides.

The University of Louisville recently released their plans to comply with the new law, and the University of Kentucky disbanded their Diversity Office at the start of this school year. The University of Louisville cancelled a Lavender Graduation ceremony that was meant to celebrate the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ students. The decision to cancel the ceremony, which was originally scheduled for the end of April, was made “in relation to new policies,” a UofL spokesperson told the Courier Journal. Additionally, the University of Kentucky recently reported they had to cancel events scheduled for minority graduates over concerns they were in violation of Trump executive orders and HB 4.

While HB 4 does not specifically target programming in K-12 education, it is only a matter of time before that is impacted as well. One of Manual’s key pillars is diversity. As students, we have seen the benefits diversity in the school community has on our educational achievement. Traditions such as the annual Multicultural Fair and Black History Month Program help highlight the diversity of our student body, the diversity that is our strength. By showcasing culture in this way, students are sent the message that they belong, their identities are worth celebrating, that this school is a place where they can feel safe to learn and grow. The threat of doing away with such an integral part of our school and education should not be taken lightly. 

On March 20, Trump passed another executive order that threatens the vitality of public education in our nation. This order, titled “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities,” directs the education secretary to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.” The Department of Education (DOE) provides many critical resources. They administer federal student aid through the FAFSA and programs like Pell Grants. They monitor schools and ensure they comply with The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and provide Title I funding to schools serving students in poverty. On top of all that, the DOE is also in charge of ensuring students don’t face discrimination – the same discrimination policies like HB 4 and Trump’s anti-DEI executive order claim to be eliminating.

Trump asserts that dismantling the DOE will send full authority over education back to the states. However, this assertion completely overlooks the fact that states already have much of the control over education. It is the states and local jurisdictions that develop curriculum, school assignment plans, graduation requirements and other educational policies. The DOE acts as an oversight agency to ensure that all students are getting the education they deserve, and that states have the resources they need to carry out that mission. Education experts from across the country agree that dismantling the DOE would be detrimental to student success and access to opportunities.

At our own state level, we have seen time and time again how Kentucky’s leaders feel about public education and how little they prioritize it. Early this year, the Kentucky Department of Education released a statement revealing they were tracking an estimated school funding shortfall of about $28 million. The same legislators tasked with creating the education budget also put a state constitutional amendment referendum on the ballot in November that would have allowed even more state dollars to be taken from public schools and put towards private education. The people of Kentucky overwhelmingly rejected this amendment, despite legislator’s out of touch efforts. 

Now, leaders in Frankfort have been sued by students in the Commonwealth claiming their constitutional right to an adequate and quality public education has been infringed upon. These are the leaders Trump believes can single handedly oversee the provision of high quality education and simultaneously take over the roles the DOE has historically provided. 

The students of today will be the leaders of tomorrow, and it is crucial that our government supports the education and the well-being of these future doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers and more. Education policy extends far past ideological differences. The future of our nation depends on the choices our government makes today. The recent actions of politicians at the state and national level demonstrate that they aren’t considering the students behind the policies they are creating. 

Students want curriculum and opportunities that allow for diversity of thought, not policies that censor classroom discussions. We want our leaders to listen and respond to the needs of our peers and teachers, not shut down the organizations that support them. We want to be set up for a future of success and stability, not watch education as we know it crumble around our shoulders. From Frankfort to D.C., our legislators need to do right by the future of their constituencies.

This story was originally published on Manual RedEye on May 1, 2025.