Gallaudet University President Cordano released a statement on Wednesday to respond to concerns about the standing of the university in the face of the Trump administration and its actions to cut federal spending and its potential dismantling of the Department of Education.

To give a short explainer, Gallaudet receives about $140 million in federal funding annually for the university and the Clerc Center, which covers MSSD and KDES. This funding is authorized by the Department of Education.

Cordano’s statement, which was translated by a Certified Deaf Interpreter Gino Gouby, said Gallaudet is “authorized by the Education of the Deaf Act” and existed long before the Department of Education was established in 1979.

Cordano said if the Department of Education was to be eliminated, it would require an act of Congress and such legislation would need to pass both chambers, including securing 60 votes in the Senate.

Cordano said their “Government Relations” team and herself continue to engage with members of Congress on both sides to ensure support and that the university has generally received strong bipartisan support throughout its 160-year history.

Cordano said her executive team has established a “rapid response team” to monitor legislative changes and assess their implications.

That’s the statement. You can watch the full statement at the YouTube link in the transcript.

The Education of the Deaf Act also funds the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) and the American Printing House for the Blind.

There have been concerns in the Deaf community that conservative leaders, some aligned with “Project 2025,” want to see funding cut for Gallaudet and NTID. When Donald Trump was campaigning for the presidency, he distanced himself from Project 2025, but several people who were involved with Project 2025 are now in the Trump administration and some of Trump’s actions after his inauguration aligns with Project 2025, such as ending DEI initiatives or seeking to freeze federal grants. So, naturally there are concerns about Gallaudet and NTID’s future. It’s something to stay tuned on.

Link

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