The Boston Teachers Union joins with our fellow educators across the nation in condemning President Trump’s decision actions on these freezes which at first review seem to be not just immoral but also illegal. We are concerned that this action may strip essential funding from schools in Boston and across nation including and especially for key student supports like breakfast and lunch subsidies for low-income children. Our schools already operate under tight budgets, and these cuts are an outright attack on the foundation of public education. This could devastate teachers, families, and entire communities as vital programs and resources are taken away.
This decision disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable students—those who rely on federally funded programs for basic needs like meals, early childhood education, special needs education, mental health resources, and after-school support.
More than 400,000 students in Massachusetts depend on these programs for daily nutrition. It exacerbates existing inequalities, leaving desperate students at an even greater disadvantage while diminishing opportunities for all children to succeed.
We know that underfunded education leads to poorer outcomes in graduation rates, workforce readiness, and economic growth. The impacts of these cuts could be felt for a generation, with all Massachusetts residents facing the consequences.
We call on elected officials at every level to take immediate action to reverse this harmful policy and to ensure that no child is left hungry, unsupported, or without access to the resources they need to succeed. Education is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right, and we must defend it.
Our students deserve better. America deserves better.