Statement from Commissioner Brendan Gill on Devastating Education Cuts to Passaic County Schools

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Today, Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, released the following statement:

“The Trump administration’s decision to rip millions of dollars in federal funding away from Passaic County schools is reckless, cruel, and indefensible. These were not budgetary abstractions — this funding paid for essential, life-saving supports, including mental health services, after-school programs, and family engagement resources that keep students safe, supported, and learning.

“These cuts will have immediate and real consequences. Students will lose critical services. Educators will be forced to do more with less. Families will be left without the support systems they depend on — all while schools are still grappling with the academic and emotional fallout of recent years.

“I am the son of a public school teacher who spent 53 years teaching students to care for one another and leave no one behind. As a proud product of public education, I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Congresswoman Nellie Pou as she demands answers and fights to restore this funding — and with the educators, families, and students being hurt by a federal decision that puts politics ahead of children.

“Trump and MAGA are shortchanging our children to line the pockets of billionaires. Fully funding public education is a moral obligation, and in Congress, I will fight relentlessly to give every child and family the resources they deserve.”

About Brendan Gill

Brendan Gill, an Essex County Commissioner and longtime civic leader, is running for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th District with a focus on protecting fundamental rights, strengthening the middle class, improving transportation and infrastructure, and defending democratic institutions.

For more information, visit www.gillfornj.com.