Illinois leaders oppose DOGE education, ag cuts

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 20 other state attorneys general this week in filing suit against what it called Trump Administration efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, including the impending layoff of 1,300-plus staffers.  Meanwhile, lawmakers and leaders from Illinois farm communities were lamenting the termination of the Local Food Purchase Assistance […]

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 20 other state attorneys general this week in filing suit against what it called Trump Administration efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, including the impending layoff of 1,300-plus staffers.  Meanwhile, lawmakers and leaders from Illinois farm communities were lamenting the termination of the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program by President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE.

“With this decision, the federal administration has shown total contempt and lack of empathy for our local farmers and our communities’ most vulnerable,” Illinois state Sen. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, said in a news release. “Many Illinoisans depend on these programs to get fresh, healthy food and the federal administration is gleefully taking that food off folks’ dinner tables.” He added “The Illinois-EATS program allows us to connect disadvantaged farmers to people who desperately need access to healthy food. Slashing this program has brought uncertainty to folks who need as much stability in their lives as they can get.” Nationwide the funding would have provided $1 billion this year to state, tribal and territorial governments to buy food produced within the state or in 400 miles of delivery destinations.  That would have bought locally produced food for schools, child care facilities and food banks. The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program grant also was created to improve food processing, distribution and market opportunities for farmers, and Illinois has committed to using the funding for only socially disadvantaged farmers, the release said. If those program cuts stand, Illinois stands to lose $26.3 million and Iowa $11.3 million. 

Food pantries impacted

The Local Food Purchase Assistance Program is operated in Illinois through the Illinois-EATS (IL–EATS) initiative. According to the senator’s release, those federal dollars bought farm fresh produce from local farms. They are then distributed to food pantries and other providers at no cost. Since IL-EATS launched, more than 170 disadvantaged farmers have delivered food to 883 locations around the state, including pantry networks in western Illinois, the release said. 

“We are disappointed that we will not have the opportunity to participate in the IL – EATS program, as demand continues to grow, this was a unique pathway for us to access local food for our guests,” Chris Ford, president and CEO of River Bend Food Bank, based in Davenport, said in the release.  “The program provided us the opportunity to not only build relationships with local farmers but purchase their food at fair-market value and distribute it to our Hunger Relief partners throughout western Illinois,” he added. Nancy Mowen, executive director of Jamieson Community Center in Monmouth, Illinois, added “We have already seen a very large increase in people needing food assistance, a cut to SNAP benefits means people will go hungry and children will not have access to regular meals if there are cuts. Missing one meal on a regular basis can negatively impact a person for their whole life.” Mr. Halpin, who chairs the Illinois Senate Education Appropriation’s Committee, vowed to “stand on behalf of Illinois farmers and families” during the current legislative session.

Pritzker slams cuts

Also this week Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Raoul ramped up their opposition to the Trump administration’s rumored efforts to gut the U.S. Department of Education. “Illinois students have long relied on the Department of Education to oversee the timely processing of financial aid applications and the release of aid, so they can make informed decisions about pursuing postsecondary education,” Mr. Raoul said in a Thursday, March 13, news release.

“The Trump administration’s unlawful, unconstitutional action will severely hamstring the processing of essential financial aid. The elimination of large numbers of employees in the department’s Office of Civil Rights harms Illinois students seeking redress from the federal government when violations of their rights affect their ability to obtain an education,” he added. According to the AG’s suit, “This massive reduction in force (RIF) is equivalent to incapacitating key, statutorily-mandated functions of the Department, causing immense damage to Plaintiff States and their educational systems.” Madi Biedermann, the education department’s deputy assistant secretary of communications, disputed those claims in a statement shared after the suit was filed. “President Trump was elected with a mandate for the American public to return education authority to the states. The Department of Education reduction in force (RIF) was implemented carefully and in compliance with all applicable regulations and laws,” she said. “They are strategic internal-facing cuts that will not directly impact students and families."

‘Unlawful overreach’

With the AGs’ class action suit, the coalition seeks a court order to block the administration from dismantling the Department of Education and drastically cutting its workforce and programs. Mr. Raoul – who has joined several other suits against the administration – added in his statement “Using mass layoffs to effectively dismantle a department that has its responsibilities set in federal law is yet another example of this administration’s unconstitutional and unlawful overreach.” On Thursday, Gov. Pritzker also slammed U.S. Department of Education cuts and DOGE, which ordered them, when he addressed about 1,200 members of the Illinois Education Association (IEA), the state’s largest union.  Capitol News Illinois reported that the governor called the president's supporters “bootlickers” and “DOGE-bags,” a reference to the department run by billionaire Elon Musk. “Education is either the foundation for a nation's future success, or if we fail, it can be our undoing,” Mr. Pritzker, a rumored presidential hopeful and frequent Donald Trump critic, told the teacher union leaders. “When we invest in our schools, we are building stronger communities, a more stable democracy, and a healthier economy.” The governor followed that up today with a statement urging U.S. Senate Democrats to reject the GOP budget continuing resolution required to avoid a government shutdown. “Republicans in Congress have abdicated their responsibility to critically evaluate the damage Donald Trump is doing to critical services the American people need. Democrats have the ability to force bipartisanship and bring the two sides together to make a budget that reflects priorities we all ought to share,” the statement said. “Democrats have the power to stop the cessation of power to Donald Trump and Elon Musk and they should use it. I urge a no vote on the Continuing Resolution.”