I carry the legacy of my family—Holocaust survivors and escapees from Soviet persecution who came to the United States with nothing but resilience and faith. Their struggles taught me that freedom is sacred and must be defended. Now, as I prepare for college, I see antisemitism rising in institutions that are supposed to be safe havens for learning.
The U.S. Department of Education, with its $80 billion budget and over 4,400 employees, has failed to address the crisis of antisemitism in American schools and universities. President Trump’s plan to dismantle the DOE is bold—and necessary. Jewish students like me will benefit enormously from eliminating a system that no longer protects us.
My parents fled the Soviet Union, where antisemitism was so deeply rooted that my father didn’t even know he was Jewish until he was seven years old. Practicing Judaism was forbidden, and Jews were openly discriminated against in education, employment, and everyday life. When my parents arrived in America, they had nothing but the clothes on their backs. They worked tirelessly, earned degrees, and built a life from scratch. Calling my parents “privileged” is not just inaccurate—it’s insulting.
Yet DEI programs, supported and enforced by the Department of Education, erase stories like theirs. A 2023 Anti-Defamation League (ADL) survey found that 55% of Jewish students feel DEI frameworks overlook their struggles, prioritizing other groups instead. Until 2023, DEI policies even allowed colleges to use my Jewish identity as a factor in admissions—an unfair and discriminatory practice that the Supreme Court rightly struck down.
President Trump’s efforts to curb DEI initiatives are vital, but the Department of Education remains the central authority that keeps such policies alive. Even if the current administration blocks DEI temporarily, the political left will resurrect these programs the moment they return to power—just as they’ve done with other policies repeatedly since the 1970s. Only by dismantling the Department of Education entirely can the cycle of DEI be stopped and Jewish students protected from future marginalization.
The explosion of antisemitism on college campuses is another area where the DOE has failed in its duty. Since the Hamas attacks on October 7th, antisemitic incidents have increased by 700%, according to the ADL. Jewish students have been harassed, called slurs, and even physically attacked. The Department of Education under Former President Biden, responsible for enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act—which prohibits discrimination in federally funded schools—has done little more than release vague public statements. No real action has been taken to protect students.
In contrast, President Trump took decisive and meaningful action. In 2025, he issued executive orders cutting $2.2 billion in federal funding from Harvard and $400 million from Columbia University for failing to ensure the safety of Jewish students. These financial penalties worked—within weeks, Columbia suspended antisemitic protests and introduced stricter campus policies.
Trump also acted during his first term by expanding the interpretation of Title VI to recognize antisemitism as a civil rights violation, holding colleges accountable for tolerating anti-Jewish hate. Meanwhile, the Department of Education’s ongoing failure to act shows it is not just ineffective—it actively stands in the way of progress for Jewish students.
The Department’s dysfunction extends beyond civil rights. According to a 2024 report from the Government Accountability Office, only 10% of the Department’s workforce directly supports classroom teaching. The remaining 90% is dedicated to regulatory compliance and bureaucracy that drains school resources without improving student outcomes.
For Jewish students, this bloated federal system also means a lack of Holocaust education. Today, only 18 states require Holocaust education in public schools. Even where it is mandated, the topic is often covered in a single rushed lesson that barely touches on the murder of six million Jews. A 2020 Claims Conference survey found that 63% of young Americans didn’t know six million Jews died in the Holocaust, and 36% believed the death toll was exaggerated.
This widespread ignorance is dangerous and contributes to the rise in antisemitism. By failing to promote meaningful Holocaust education, the Department of Education becomes complicit in the erasure of Jewish history. Without a strong understanding of the past, students grow up unaware of the dangers of antisemitic ideology.
President Trump’s immigration policy also resonates with Jewish students. His stance on deporting foreign students who engage in antisemitic hate speech or activities while on student visas is fair and reasonable. Anyone who comes to the United States to spread hate should not be allowed to stay.
Trump’s foreign policy has also demonstrated unwavering support for the Jewish people. His decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem was not just symbolic—it affirmed Israel’s legitimacy and the deep historic connection of the Jewish people to their ancestral homeland. For decades, other presidents made promises but never followed through. Trump delivered.
Eliminating the Department of Education would benefit all American students—not just Jewish ones. In 2023, schools across the country spent $25 billion complying with federal regulations, a sum large enough to hire 400,000 new teachers. But for Jewish students, the cost of maintaining the Department is even greater. We face a unique combination of rising antisemitism, historical erasure, and harmful policies that misrepresent who we are.
President Trump’s plan would allow states and local communities to design better education systems—ones that could include robust Holocaust education, strong antisemitism policies, and inclusive environments that reflect the needs of their students—without interference from Washington.
As a Jewish student, I’m tired of being ignored. The Department of Education has failed me, failed my community, and failed millions of students across the country. President Trump’s willingness to tear it down gives me hope—hope for a future where I can attend college without fear, where my history is taught with truth, and where students like me are finally seen.