Education officials from throughout Michigan signed a joint letter Thursday condemning the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, calling on state and federal policymakers to defend public education and fully fund Michigan’s public schools.

In total, 85 school board members from 36 districts across the state, including all five Democratic members of the Michigan State Board of Education, signed the letter.

The letter came the same day President Donald Trump signed an executive order dramatically downsizing the department, although an act of Congress would be required to eliminate it entirely.

Coordinated by the Michigan Education Justice Coalition, the letter was addressed to Michigan’s entire Congressional delegation, both Republicans and Democrats, and hand-delivered to Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, who chairs the House Education and Workforce Committee.

“The DOE’s vital role in advancing educational equity, supporting state and local education systems, and ensuring the civil rights of all students cannot be overstated. Its closure would have devastating consequences for millions of students, educators and families across Michigan and the United States. Our kids all deserve the opportunity to learn and grow, regardless of where they come from,” stated the letter.

Michigan gets nearly $2.3 billion in federal funding each year for education, with $533 million supporting special education programs for more than 217,000 public school students.

“Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education would be disastrous for all students and especially for the most vulnerable populations,” said Benton Harbor School Board member Dashuna Robinson, one of those who signed the letter. “The inevitable funding gap will be most deeply felt by the students who already face systemic barriers to opportunity. We’re calling on our lawmakers to do what’s right — invest in every child’s future, no matter their race, identity or ZIP code.”

“The entire Benton Harbor School Board signed onto this letter, asking elected leaders to prioritize equitable and sustainable investment in public schools,” said Robinson.

The letter states that closing or “crippling” the education department would leave states on the hook to fill in the gaps following the disruption of billions of dollars in federal funding.

“In Michigan, the closing of the DOE would mean that our communities would suffer the loss of approximately $440 million for Title I programs, and will be forced to take drastic measures to meet the budgeting shortfall. This will impact low-income communities the hardest, who don’t have the resources from tax revenues that wealthier communities have, and will increase educational inequities further in rural and urban schools that are reliant on federal support,” said the letter.