Dear Friends,

UNITE-LA is proud to stand alongside 29 business organizations in issuing an urgent appeal to protect the U.S. Department of Education, recognizing its vital role in advancing economic competitiveness across California, the nation and the global economy. This letter, sent to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions and the U.S. House Committee on Education & Workforce, clearly lays out the economic repercussions of dismantling the Department.

UNITE-LA has always focused on driving systems change—recognizing that existing structures haven’t worked for everyone and have often fallen short in addressing persistent challenges. The question now is: how do we rebuild smarter, more inclusive systems that deliver better outcomes for communities, business and workers? Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education would severely undermine support for K-12 students—particularly those living in poverty, English language learners and students with disabilities—while jeopardizing critical federal investments in digital connectivity that help ensure equitable access to learning. Furthermore, it would lessen available financial aid, making it more difficult to apply, and undermine student loan protections, increasing repayment burdens and leaving borrowers at greater risk of default. It would also weaken oversight of predatory for-profit programs, threaten funding for majority-minority institutions, and eliminate vital support for career and technical education (CTE)—disrupting student success and economic mobility nationwide. These investments are essential to building a skilled, competitive and inclusive workforce that drives economic growth. And we need the Department of Education to do so.

As discussions around dismantling the U.S. Department of Education continue to gain momentum, UNITE-LA is deeply concerned about the long-term implications—particularly for communities with barriers to quality education and high mobility careers. We know lasting change requires collective action. As we explore creative paths forward, we welcome engagement from our diverse stakeholders in exploring shared concerns and potential solutions. Whether that’s through coordinated messaging, joint advocacy or other forms of collaboration, we deeply value the strength in coming together. Please reach out to Jasmin Sakai-Gonzalez, UNITE-LA Senior Director, Regional Business Engagement, at [email protected]. We’d value your voice in this important dialogue.

In partnership,

Alysia Bell
President, UNITE-LA