A Bold Opportunity to Rebuild America's Schools Using DOGE Savings

Dear President Trump,

As a concerned citizen and advocate for the future of America’s children, I urge your administration to consider a powerful and transformative use of the funds saved through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE): rebuilding America’s aging public school infrastructure.

According to national data, approximately 38% of U.S. public school buildings are over 50 years old, many constructed before 1970. These aging facilities suffer from outdated wiring, inadequate HVAC systems, poor insulation, and crumbling structural elements. They fail to meet the technological and safety standards necessary for a 21st-century learning environment. Students and teachers are too often asked to thrive in buildings plagued by mold, leaking roofs, and insufficient classroom space—conditions that would never be tolerated in other professional settings.

While DOGE has uncovered and cut billions in wasteful government spending, including eliminating thousands of unnecessary contracts and streamlining bloated bureaucracies, these savings—estimated by your administration to reach as high as $160 billion—now present an extraordinary opportunity. Rather than letting these funds sit unused or redirected into the same inefficient systems they were saved from, we propose reinvesting them where they will have both immediate and lasting impact: rebuilding America's schools.

Experts estimate that a comprehensive modernization of outdated school buildings would require an investment of around $200 billion. While this is a significant figure, it is within reach when combined with state and local contributions, private sector partnerships, and federal leadership. The economic return, however, would far exceed the upfront cost.

Rebuilding schools is not only a moral and educational imperative—it’s also an economic engine. A national school infrastructure program would generate hundreds of thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs, boost local economies, and support small businesses supplying materials, labor, and services. Beyond immediate job creation, the long-term impact includes higher student achievement, healthier learning environments, and a better-prepared workforce.

Mr. President, this is a legacy-defining moment. Just as past presidents have left their mark through national highways and space exploration, you can be remembered as the leader who rebuilt the foundation of American education. By allocating DOGE savings to school construction, you would not only be honoring the mission of government efficiency but also building a stronger, more innovative, and more competitive America.

Our children deserve classrooms equipped for the future. Our teachers deserve environments that inspire. And our country deserves leadership that sees bold investment in education not as an expense, but as a necessity.

Respectfully,

Al Felder

Concerned Citizen and Advocate for Educational Renewal