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Musk is going after our schools. You can fight back.
Musk is going after our schools. You can fight back.
This week, Elon Musk and the unelected billionaires, who have seized power to line their own pockets, began gutting the Department of Education. But this blatant attack on our schools isn’t going unchecked. More below.
PROTECTING OREGON STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Earlier this week, nearly half of the employees at the Department of Education were laid off in just the latest chaotic move from unelected billionaire Elon Musk and his widely panned and error-prone DOGE. The layoffs targeted workers who provide critical assistance to students with disabilities, track educational outcomes to ensure all students receive a quality education, and administer grants to support low-income students.
An Oregon Department of Education official told KOIN that students here could feel serious effects, “potentially straining resources and widening existing inequities.” Becky Pringle, the president of the National Education Association, said "Trump and Elon Musk have aimed their wrecking ball at public schools and the futures of the 50 million students in rural, suburban, and urban communities across America by dismantling public education to pay for tax handouts for billionaires.”
On Thursday, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined 20 other states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration that argued the layoffs are “illegal and unconstitutional,” highlighting the devastating impact on students with disabilities and low-income students.
HOW WE'RE FIGHTING BACK: The Oregon Education Association and other public school advocates have been preparing for these attacks. You can help:
Call on Congress to protect our public schools, where 90% of kids across the country learn
Learn more about how you can fight back by visiting OEA’s Protect Public Schools & Students toolkit
PROTECTING OUR PUBLIC LANDS
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Ever since Trump and Musk took office, our public lands and the workers who protect and preserve them have been under attack. Last month, thousands of rangers, educators, scientists, and caretakers in the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management were let go. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has issued directives that would increase logging and the destruction of our public lands — all to benefit billionaires and corporate polluters.
These attacks have serious consequences for our local communities and economies. In 2023 alone, “national park tourism contributed roughly $76 million to the state's economy,” according to Axios. From the Umatilla National Forest to Yaquina Head Lighthouse to the Ochoco and Deschutes National Forests, we’re already seeing cuts to staff, hours, and services that make our public lands less accessible to Oregonians and more vulnerable to wildfire and exploitation. Last week, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, and Japanese American Citizens League, sued Musk and DOGE over the staff cuts.
HOW WE'RE FIGHTING BACK:
Tell Congress why it’s important to protect our federal lands
Create your own version of the Stewards of Public Lands Letter to oppose these harmful cuts
Spread the word on social media using this Sierra Club toolkit
UPCOMING TOWN HALLS AND EVENTS
Want to make your voice heard? Show up to a town hall, rally, or event in your community where Oregonians will be gathering to speak out, push back, and build a better future for our families:
SEIU HANDS OFF MEDICAID RALLIES
In response to Trump and Congressional Republicans pushing a disastrous budget framework that could mean $880 billion in cuts to critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP over the next decade, SEIU is hosting #HandsOffMedicaid rallies across the state. The proposed cuts would threaten health care for the 1 in 3 Oregonians who rely on the Oregon Health Plan – that’s 1.4 million of us, including kids, veterans, new parents, seniors, rural Oregonians, and people with disabilities.
Show up to make your voice heard and urge Rep. Cliff Bentz (OR-2) to vote NO on the final budget.
Date: March 15
Time: 1:30 pm
Location: Vogel Plaza, 101 E 8th St, Medford, OR 97501
Date: March 19th
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Holladay Park, NE 11th Avenue and Holladay Street, Portland, OR 97232
Oregon Reps. Bonamici, Salinas, and Dexter will be in attendance
Date: March 21
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: SpringHill Suites by Marriott, 55 Industrial Way, Bend, OR 97702
Date: April 12
Time: 11 am
Location: Alton Baker Park, 200 Day Island Rd., Eugene, OR 97402
Date: April 16
Time: 3:30 pm
Location: Willson Park, Salem Capitol, 700 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301
CONGRESSIONAL TOWN HALLS
Rep. Bynum and Senator Wyden: Linn County
Date: Sunday, March 16
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: Benton-Linn Community College Activities Center
Address: 6500 Pacific Blvd SW, Albany, OR
Rep. Bynum and Senator Wyden: Clackamas County
Date: Sunday, March 16
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Clackamas Community College, Randall Hall Gym
Address: 19600 Molalla Ave
Senator Merkley: Jackson County Town Hall
Date: Sunday, March 16
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: Ashland High School – Main Gym
Address: 201 S Mountain Avenue, Ashland, OR 97520
Senator Merkley: Josephine County Town Hall
Date: Sunday, March 16
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: Rogue Community College – Gym
Address: 3345 Redwood Highway, Grants Pass, OR 97527
Senator Merkley: Morrow County Town Hall
Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 11:30 a.m. PT
Location: SAGE Event Center – Great Room, Conference Room C
Address: 101 Olson Road NE, Boardman, OR 97818
Senator Merkley: Gilliam County Town Hall
Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 2:00 p.m. PT
Location: Gronquist Building – Columbia Room
Address: 1650 Railroad Avenue, Arlington, OR 97812
Senator Merkley: Sherman County Town Hall
Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 5:00 p.m. PT
Location: Wasco School Events Center – Auditorium
Address: 903 Barnett Street, Wasco, OR 97065
Senator Wyden: Crook County Town Hall
Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 1:00 p.m. PT
Location: Crook County Fairgrounds Grizzly Mountain Pavilion
Address: 1280 S Main St., Prineville, OR
Senator Wyden: Deschutes County Town Hall
Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 6:00 p.m. PT
Location: Sisters High School Gymnasium
Address: 1700 W. McKinney Butte Rd., Sisters, OR
Rep. Salinas: McMinnville Town Hall
Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 6:30 PM PT
Location: McMinnville High School Gym
Address: 615 NE 15th St, McMinnville, OR 97128
More Information: Call (503) 385-0906
OREGON LEGISLATURE WAYS AND MEANS ROADSHOW
With chaos at the federal level threatening the programs and services that working families rely on, it’s more important than ever that the Oregon Legislature passes a budget that protects our communities and invests in our future. Over the next month, Oregon’s budget writers will be touring the state to hear from local communities about their priorities.
Date: Saturday, March 22
Time: 10:00 am to noon
Location: Mt. Hood Community College Theater, 26000 S.E. Stark St.
Date: Friday, March 28
Time: 5-7pm
Location: Liberty Theatre Astoria, 1203 Commercial St.
Date: Friday, April 4
Time: 5-7pm
Location: Old Warm Springs Elementary School, 1112 Wasco St.
Date: Friday, April 11
Time: 5-7pm
Location: Eastern Oregon University, Hoke Union Building #339, 1 University Blvd.
Date: Friday, April 16
Time: 5-7pm
Location: State Capitol, Hearing Room F
Date: Friday, April 25
Time: 5-7pm
Location: Klamath Community College, Building 4 Commons, 7390 South 6th St.
Are you or your organization fighting back and have updates or actions to share with the Protect Oregon community? Email us!