At Braven, we know that education is the engine of economic mobility, national competitiveness, and leadership development. For over 40 years, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has played an essential role in ensuring that all students—particularly those who identify as first-generation and/or low-income—have access to the resources and opportunities they need to learn and succeed. Reducing the scope of and ultimately eliminating this agency would undermine the very foundation of a strong, future-ready workforce and a thriving national economy.

America’s workforce and economic success depend on a well-educated, highly skilled talent pipeline. The Department of Education is the only federal agency with students as its bullseye audience, ensuring that policy decisions prioritize their success. Other agencies may manage funding mechanisms, but none are dedicated to ensuring that characteristics like income and disability are not barriers to educational opportunity. 

Last year’s FAFSA delays exposed the risks of disruption to existing programs under the Department of Education—students and families faced uncertainty and anxiety about affording college, while universities struggled to plan budgets and award aid. Without the Department of Education to oversee and manage the FAFSA process and many other critical functions, such disruptions could become even more chaotic and prolonged, disproportionately harming first-generation and/or low-income students who rely on federal aid to access higher education. The absence of a central authority would exacerbate delays, create inconsistencies in aid distribution, and reduce college access, weakening the national talent pipeline and workforce readiness. If we care about strengthening our workforce to remain globally competitive, we must protect and enhance this student-centered institution—not dismantle it.