I’ll keep fighting to undo the serious damage this Administration has done to public education in this country and to strengthen our public schools so they can meet their full promise – providing equal access to high-quality education for every student, no matter their zip code,” said Senator Van Hollen.
Fight to undo the damage done to public education by recent administrative actions and strengthen public schools to ensure equal access to high-quality education for every student, regardless of zip code.
Occurrences
Evidence
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The Department of Education said it initiated a reduction in force impacting nearly 50% of the Department’s workforce.
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Hirono said Trump’s effort to gut the Department of Education would wreak havoc on schools and that Americans should do everything in their power to protect children’s education and future.
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Hirono joined reintroduction of the Keep Our PACT Act to fully fund Title I and IDEA, with the release saying these programs support public education and underfunding leaves public schools at a disadvantage.
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Hirono joined the Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2026, which would provide $130 billion to improve public school infrastructure, safety, and learning environments.
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Hirono held a spotlight forum on continued attacks on K-12 public education and described Trump’s actions as an all-out coordinated attack on public education.
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The official legislation page lists a May 12, 2026 entry for S.4504: a cosponsored bill to improve the full-service community school program.
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The official newsroom page lists a May 21, 2026 press release titled 'Hirono, Jayapal Introduce Legislation to Ensure AANHPI Students are Accounted for in Schools,' showing continued education-focused action.
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The Department of Education announced a Learning Agenda Playbook as a milestone in returning education authority to states and improving education policy and outcomes at state and local levels.
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Hirono held a spotlight forum opposing Trump administration interagency agreements moving OSERS and OCR functions out of the Education Department, warning of harm to IDEA enforcement and students with disabilities.
Assessments
Hirono continued to oppose federal administrative actions affecting public education and equal access, including Senate spotlight forums, public condemnation of Education Department cuts, and support for bills such as Keep Our PACT, Rebuild America's Schools, community schools legislation, and AANHPI student data legislation. Those actions show a serious effort to fight for the promise. However, the evidence does not show that the damaging administrative actions were undone or that the promised strengthening of public schools and equal access was enacted or achieved. Recent federal education actions were still moving in a direction she criticized, so the promised outcome was not delivered.
Hirono clearly and repeatedly opposed Trump-era public education cuts, held forums, condemned DOE layoffs, and co-sponsored/reintroduced bills to fully fund or strengthen public schools, but the evidence shows advocacy and introduction of legislation rather than an enacted reversal of the damage or a realized equal-access outcome. That is a serious effort, but not delivery of the promised result.
Hirono has taken concrete federal actions consistent with the promise, including reintroducing legislation to fully fund Title I and IDEA, joining a 2026 public school infrastructure bill, and publicly opposing administrative actions affecting the Department of Education and K-12 public education. However, the evidence shows advocacy, forums, and introduced legislation rather than enacted federal policy that undid the administrative damage or broadly strengthened public schools as promised. This merits partial credit with an effort badge, not full delivery.
Hirono has materially pursued the promise through public opposition to federal administrative actions affecting education and by joining legislation to fully fund Title I/IDEA and invest in public school infrastructure. However, the evidence shows advocacy, forums, and introduced or reintroduced bills rather than enacted federal outcomes that actually undo the administrative damage or broadly strengthen public schools as promised. Because she remains in federal office and the documented actions occurred during the relevant Senate term, the timing is same_term, but the outcome is only partial rather than delivered.