For further information contact:
Chris Lilienthal (717) 712-6677
David Broderic (717) 376-9169
HARRISBURG, PA (Oct. 1, 2025) — The Pennsylvania State Education Association spoke out about the impacts of the federal government shutdown, which began this morning after the Trump administration and Congressional leaders failed to reach a compromise on a federal spending plan.
This will further reduce the ability of the federal government to support essential state and local services, including public education in future years.
PSEA President Aaron Chapin issued the following statement:
“Educators and support professionals value teaching and learning that is focused on the needs of our students. And we envision a future where resources and funding are no longer obstacles for our students to reach their full potential.
“But politicians in Washington are executing a plan to dismantle public education and defund critical services that our students and communities rely on. These policies are written by billionaires, not educators, and they are expressly designed to undermine public education as we know it.
“Many of these policies come directly from Project 2025, a policy blueprint written by special interests to radically restructure presidential power and phase out federal funding and support for our public schools.
“The Trump administration’s idea to fire thousands of federal employees because of the shutdown is part of this broader plan. It will hamstring essential public services across the country, including critical services and funding that public school students rely on every day.
“PSEA opposes these dangerous federal actions and calls on Congress to stand up to the Trump administration and work to reach a compromise on a federal spending plan.”
Chapin is a Stroudsburg Area middle school teacher and president of PSEA. An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents about 177,000 active and retired educators and school employees, aspiring educators, higher education staff, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.
