Trump and Musk are undermining a foundation of our country. Congress must step in | Opinion
Congress must reject President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s plans to dismantle the Department of Education and undermine the foundation of public education in this country.
We have witnessed countless attacks on public education at the hands of Trump and his administration. In this most recent attack, nearly 50% of education department employees were unjustly fired in the name of government efficiency. With the significant reduction in staff, the Trump administration has effectively shuttered the agency and gutted its ability to support public schools, compromising our children’s legal right to quality, equitable education. They are attempting to circumvent Congress to do so!
As a concerned community member and an advocate for equitable education, I believe these attacks will have devastating long-term consequences for our children, our schools and our country. I urge Congress to invest in public schools and rein in the Trump administration’s attacks on public education. Our children’s future depends on it.
Alana Williams, Durham
Gun law
It is negligent and foolish to allow a person without basic knowledge of the law to carry a firearm as proposed by NC lawmakers. Obtaining a permit for concealed carry provides instruction about North Carolina’s laws of self-defense, defense of others and property, and when deadly force can be used. Innocent civilians will be in danger when an ignorant person uses a firearm without lawful justification.
An armed citizenry needs to be informed. I do not place much stock in the U.S. Supreme Court’s New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen decision. It has a long history of distasteful and poorly reasoned opinions. Evaluating 21st century firearms laws using a historical tradition of firearm regulation is absurd.
North Carolina has a whole host of problems. Lawmakers should be focused on fixing real, not imagined, problems.
Mark Burnley, Durham
Medicaid
Last week, Congress voted to drastically cut healthcare funding, disproportionately impacting Medicaid, which covers over 2.6 million North Carolinians. As OBGYNs, we see the benefits Medicaid affords patients, including pregnancy care, family planning services and primary care.
Following Medicaid expansion in NC, 600,000 more individuals qualified for coverage, leading to increased access to birth control, cervical cancer and STI screening and automatic enrollment of infants after birth. Cutting Medicaid will result in sicker moms and babies.
Stripping away Medicaid is not fiscally responsible. Ensuring health coverage prevents crippling medical debt and improves access to care, ultimately reducing healthcare costs and improving health. Protecting Medicaid impacts the health and well being of our state, for which patients, physicians and representatives must fight.
Doctors Reilly Bealer and Jenna Beckham, Raleigh
Town halls
People are having more and more questions for their elected officials as the results of the massive changes in government become apparent. Our folks in Congress decline town hall visits. Being held accountable can be uncomfortable. However, the time will come when they must answer for the upheaval they watched over. In doing nothing, they are complicit. I will be looking for explanations that cannot be dodged when they’re running for re-election.
Deborah Brogden, Durham
Judge
We have entered a constitutional crisis. Federal Judge James Boasberg ordered the Trump administration not to deport any Venezuelans using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The administration blatantly ignored him. This is terrifying. No president can ignore a judge’s order.
This country was created with a system of checks and balances for a reason. This is something we all learned in school, and yet the president of this country has no regard for our Constitution. Without these checks and balances, we cease to be a democracy.
My hope and prayer is that Sen. Tillis and Sen. Budd will have the courage to stand up to this administration’s unconstitutional actions. We need strong leaders who will uphold the Constitution and represent the needs of their constituents.
Allison Hood, Raleigh
This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Trump and Musk are undermining a foundation of our country. Congress must step in | Opinion."