With recent crackdowns on government agencies by the Department of Government Efficiency, the United States Department of Education faces staff firing and cuts to programs.  

Additionally, the Trump Administration has approved federal funding to religious and private schools.

However, as Head of School Judith Guild stated, the School will not receive any funding, keeping the School independent.

“Brimmer receives no federal or state funding. We do not intend to take any funding even if [it’s] to benefit us. We prefer to remain independent,” Guild said.

We understand that accepting this federal funding will subject the school to changes dictated by the Trump Administration, which may include restrictions on DEIB programs and groups. 

Head of the Upper School Joshua Neudel also spoke about why the School chooses to remain independent.

“As an independent School, we want to be able to make our own decision around curriculum, around programs, and we don’t want to necessarily have the restrictions put on us,” Neudel said.

We stand in solidarity with the decisions made by the School and are committed to remaining an independent newsroom, prioritizing student voice and core values.  

We also note the decision by the Trump Administration to not fund schools that partake in “illegal and discriminatory treatment and indoctrination in K-12 schools.” We will not bend to these policies, which include the absence of terms such as “unconscious bias” and “white privilege”.  

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Jessica Christian explained the state of DEIB programs at the School.

“It is clear in feedback that we get from families as well as internal feedback from the people who are here every day that DEI is going in the right direction for our community, and that people are still committed to it and that it’s important to us,” Christian said. 

We’ve never been more fortunate to be at an independent school, which doesn’t depend on federal dollars to operate. Let’s hope it stays that way.