As part of a series planned to spotlight how actions taken by Education Secretary Linda McMahon and the White House Office of Management and Budget have and continue to impact K-12 schools, students, educators, and other stakeholders, Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) hosted a forum, Robbing Our Students’ Futures: The Indefensible Attacks on Public Education. With Hirono at the helm, Senate Democrats invited speakers Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers; Princess Moss, VP, National Education Association; Denise Forte, CEO, The Education Trust; Aaron Philip Dworkin, CEO, National Summer Learning Association; and Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez CEO, National Center for Learning Disabilities to discuss ongoing and emerging issues of concern. Together, the panel and Senators engaged in a discussion about the status of the workforce at the U.S. Department of Education (ED), proposed cuts in the White House Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget, private school vouchers, teacher shortages, as well as student/community impacts – including that some districts have shut down summer school programs as well as frozen hiring due to FY 2025 funds being withheld by ED. “There is nothing normal about what this Administration is doing,” stated Hirono. “Millions of children and their families are relying upon all of us to get out of our silos and work together to stop these dangerous actions.” Seven Senators participated, including Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who shared results from the report she released last week.