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Kids and PSRPs take the brunt of Trump’s halt to school funding

Photo credit: SDI Productions / E+ / Getty Images

Paraprofessionals and school-related personnel are often overlooked because of their support roles. They are the last ones hired and often the first ones fired when budgets get tight. This certainly seems true right now as the Trump administration withholds nearly $7 billion in education funds, effective July 1, which has hamstrung summer school programs, hindered English language support, halted professional development this summer, and left before- and after-school programs in limbo for the coming school year.

It is clear that higher education is under attack. The Trump administration has frozen funding for science, from cancer research to reproductive care; has hamstrung student financial aid programs; has stripped colleges and universities of diversity, equity and inclusion programming; has strangled affirmative action designed to expand access to college; and is demanding that some institutions sign a “compact” that forces them to adopt Trump’s ideology in exchange for federal funding.

Dr. Byrce Pulliam spends his nights in a community emergency room in Southern Oregon, where the line between life and death can come down to seconds—and insurance coverage.

“I show up 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year with one goal in mind: to provide excellent care for patients in crisis. Being a doctor is often challenging, but it has become harder because our nation’s healthcare system is on life support,” he said before a House hearing on Oct. 8.

Scarlett Ahmed has started counting the number of people sleeping outside the Queens Career Center in New York City when she arrives at work in the morning.

“It was already bad,” she said. “But this? This will just add to it.”

On Aug. 14, Social Security will mark its 90th anniversary—but instead of celebrating, labor leaders and activists say the program faces the gravest threats in its history. Speaking during a virtual town hall on Aug. 7, AFT President Randi Weingarten warned that the Trump administration is pursuing policies aimed at dismantling Social Security. “They’re not going to tell people that they don’t want it,” she said. “We have to fight in every which way we can, particularly those of us who are not yet on Social Security, … for people to have it and to keep it … for our children and our

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

We know this has been a challenging time for our neighbors and communities across the state. Uncertainty around access to basic resources, food, travel, and healthcare caused by decisions made at the federal level that left many wondering how they would put food on the table, visit loved ones this holiday season, or address health concerns.

Yet even with so much unfolding around us, the season welcomes moments of reflection and connection, reminding us of what matters most and the importance of making memories with the people we hold close.

Read more here.

snapshot of adults at a halloween trunk or treat event with candy and books for kids

AFT Maryland members and staff joined with an annual Community Trunk or Treat event for kids and families on Saturday, Oct. 25th, 2025 in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of Baltimore. We were there with snacks and free books for the kids, and voter registration information for the grown-ups. It was a great afternoon for everyone.

AFT Maryland joined other sponsors of the event, including the A Philip Randolph Institute, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, Baltimore Metro Council AFL-CIO, several other unions, Hope Chapel Baptist Church, and the Rogue Auto Family.