FLISA Statement on Department of Education Cuts

Statement on Staff Reductions at Department of Education

March 12, 2025

Last night, the Trump administration announced that they would be cutting 50% of the Department of Education workforce.  This is another step in the Trump administrations’ process to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. 

With so much confusion during these times, FLISA is issuing this statement so that that the administration and Members of Congress clearly understand that every student in a Federal Lands (Impact Aid Section 7002) school is directly tied to and dependent upon Impact Aid.  

By acquiring what would otherwise be taxable properties, the federal government reduced the tax dollars that support our students, and an executive order cannot simply waive away that longstanding obligation.

The students in Federal Lands districts should not languish in underfunded schools, nor should citizens in their communities be burdened with higher taxes due to the federal government’s actions.

In an informal survey conducted in January, leaders in Federal Lands school districts overwhelmingly indicated that eliminating Impact Aid Section 7002 would lead to reductions in teaching staff, resulting in larger class sizes. In addition, they universally stated that loss of this funding would cause the elimination of student programming, including tutoring, before and after school activities, and extracurriculars.

The Federal Lands Impacted Schools Association (FLISA) represents approximately 200 districts and nearly 900,000 children that have federally owned land within their boundaries.  

Every one of those students is directly tied to Impact Aid because of the loss of tax dollars due to a federal presence.  Federal impact aid is an obligation and a promise made to our students and communities that every administration and Congress is duty bound to maintain and support.Statement Department of Education 3-12-25