Trump Tried to Kill Education Dept. While Funding Israeli Schools
When The Hill reported on the Trump administration utilizing a government shutdown to push for the elimination of the Education Department, it painted a picture of fiscal belt-tightening at home. This narrative conveniently sidesteps the consistent, bipartisan allocation of billions to external interests. For example, throughout the 2017-2020 Trump presidency, the US commitment to Israel's
Qualitative Military Edge (QME) was repeatedly affirmed, even as domestic programs were on the chopping block. While attempting to dismantle a federal department crucial for American students, congressional records consistently show votes for robust aid packages to allies abroad, such as the approximately $3.8 billion annually stipulated under the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding. This isn't just
Trump; it’s a playbook. One might wonder: how can an administration justify defunding American education, citing fiscal responsibility, while simultaneously securing funding for, say, Israeli educational institutions—much of which comes from US taxpayers? (Yes, the US has funded specific educational initiatives in Israel, separate from military aid.) It appears fiscal austerity is a flexible
concept—applied rigorously at home, but curiously pliable when it comes to certain geopolitical allegiances. Perhaps the next shutdown will clarify whether America's children or foreign allies' infrastructure truly come first.