SACRAMENTO, Calif. — While on the campaign trail, President Donald Trump vowed to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. He has called the department a “con job” and earlier this week, the Senate confirmed Linda McMahon as the new secretary of education.

The possible elimination of the agency has several education advocates concerned about what that will mean at the local and state level.

What You Need To Know

  • Trump has vowed multiple times to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education

  • His pick to lead the agency, Linda McMahon, was confirmed by the Senate on Monday

  • Education advocates in California are calling on state leaders to allocate more funding for after-school programs

  • Budget negotiations are taking place over the next few months

Nearly 500 students from across California took to the state Capitol this week to advocate for funding for school programs.

Francisco Guerrero says participating in different after school programs throughout his high school years has given him a sense of purpose and a safe space to learn and have fun.

“Growing up in South Central LA, gang violence and gun violence are pretty common out there… Programs like After-School All-Stars provide a safe space for kids like me to be more open and not be scared,” said Guerrero.

The high school senior is concerned about the future of such programs if President Trump keeps his word to eliminate the department of education and the funding that comes with it.

Currently, the state funds most of the after-school programs for TK-6th graders, while programs for high school kids rely on federal funding.

According to the California After School Alliance, around 10,000 students would lose access to programs like the ones Guerrero is in, which he notes have helped him learn financial literacy, prepare for college, and play soccer.

“We’re still developing, we’re still young. We’re not fully adults yet. We’re barely entering a new chapter into our lives and I feel like we need a stepping stone like these programs,” he added.

Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, chair of the Assembly Education Committee, says the programs help provide opportunities to kids who live in underserved communities.

“These kids that benefit from the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program — they’re kids that come from republican households as well as democratic households. This should be a bipartisan issue to give equal opportunities to all kids, regardless of where they live,” said Muratsuchi.

While Trump has been adamant about getting rid of the federal agency, McGeorge School of Law adjunct professor Chris Micheli explained that only Congress can do so.

“Because the department of education was established by a congressional act, it will require a congressional act to eliminate it as well,” he said.

Though it’s still unclear what’s going to happen with education funding at the federal level, advocates are calling on the governor and legislature to step in by setting aside funding for after school programs that serve high schoolers.

“Until we know how the federal courts are going to address these threats of defunding not only the department of education, but also other important funds that the federal government provides to each state, all of that is going to be a big unknown while state governments like California are trying to address their budgets,” said Micheli.

Negotiations for what will come and go in the budget are taking place over the next few months. The governor will sign the final spending plan by the end of June.