Illinois, Pritzker and Department of Education

Department of Education cuts leave uncertainty and fear in Illinois
Recent drastic cuts to the Department of Education could have far-reaching effects on local school funding and services for vulnerable students, officials say. Why it matters: The city and state are struggling with education budgets at current levels.
Pritzker discusses U.S. Department of Education cuts at Illinois Education Association meeting
The Trump administration has made it clear their goal is to dismantle the Department of Education entirely, and that is causing a lot of concern and fear among educators in Illinois.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Rallies Educators in Defense of Public Education Amid Sweeping Federal Budget Cuts
Governor JB Pritzker rallies against federal education budget cuts, highlighting their impact on Illinois schools and students.
Trump’s education cuts put Illinois at risk of losing $3 billion in federal funding, Pritzker warns
Sweeping layoffs announced this week are part of a dramatic downsizing of the Department of Education. Gov. JB Pritzker addressed the cuts at an education conference.
In remarks to teachers union, Pritzker lashes out at Trump’s education cuts
Gov. JB Pritzker lashes out at the Trump administrations over mass layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education and its attempts to dismantle the agency during remarks to a gathering of Illinois Education Association officials on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Pritzker and Illinois educators condemn Trump’s cuts at Department of Education
Gov. JB Pritzker warned at an Illinois Education Association convention Thursday that cuts to federal education funding could “damage the future of the people of Illinois,” shortly
'DOGE bags in Washington': Gov. Pritzker addresses Illinois educators on federal education cuts
Gov. JB Pritzker addressed more than 1,200 educators at the IEA conference, discussing concerns over federal funding cuts to schools.
Pritzker sounds off on Trump, Republicans while vowing to fight for public education
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker spoke Thursday about the layoffs at the Department of Education.
Crain's Chicago Business1h
Crain's Daily Gist podcast: Illinois universities stay put on diversity efforts despite Trump
At a recent Crain’s event, Illinois university leaders showed a united front as President Donald Trump's threats to crack down on higher education loom.
Our Chicago: Possible impacts of cuts at Dept. of Education
The Federal Student Aid Office was impacted by the cuts at the DOE. "The federal student aid gives out $120,000,000,000 a year, to over 4,000 institutions and some foreign institutions. And they were ...
Trump administration cancels grant allowing Illinois schools to buy from local farmers
A federal fund has been cut that provided Illinois schools and childcare centers with healthy foods from local farms and suppliers.
Education Department layoffs gut civil rights offices in Chicago, nationwide
At least 50 staffers were fired in Chicago or pushed out, including the entire Office for Civil Rights. The layoffs are part ...
Proposals aim to ban disposable products in Illinois businesses and schools
Two measures, awaiting advancement, seek to outlaw plastics, foam and disposable products from Illinois businesses and ...
NPR Illinois2d
Illinois Wesleyan among institutions targeted by DOE for investigations into 'antisemitic discrimination'
Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington is among 60 universities the federal Department of Education is investigating for ...
Daily Herald2d
Illinois schools turn to retirees, substitutes, outsourcing & state grants to combat prolonged teacher shortage
From hiring retired educators to adjusting class offerings, Illinois schools are relying on a variety of short-term, ...
Illinois educators say low pay, poor conditions hinder teacher recruitment, retention
All teachers across the state feel under-compensated, and that is a real point of pain,” said Dr. Rachel Mahmood, 2024 ...