President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order today to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE), testing the bounds of presidential power. Trump believes the department is wasteful spending and derives from liberal ideology. The U.S. Education Department was created in 1979 and will not be as easily eliminated as people think. An act of Congress will need to be taken before this is done.
This action does not come as a surprise to those who read Project 2025, a right-wing agenda that was denied by President Trump throughout his entire presidential campaign until after he became the nominee. It has also been slowly building since Trump got into office, as his administration has already slashed the department’s employees in half.
Return it to The States
The Department of Education seeks to advance student achievement and prepare individuals for global competitiveness by encouraging educational excellence and ensuring equal access for learners of all ages. Those who support the dismantling of the DOE believe it wastes taxpayer dollars, but it is not black and white. The department only receives approximately 14% in federal funding, which goes towards supplemental programs that help vulnerable students. The rest of the funding comes from local and state governments.
If the Department of Education is dismantled and it returns to the states, they will have to make up for the funding that was being received federally. Where is that going to come from? The residents of those states. If they decide to reduce the amount of funding received altogether, then programs will be cut, and vulnerable students might not receive a proper or equal education.
However, federal funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Title I funding supporting disadvantaged students, and federal student loan payments are supposed to remain untouched until McMahon can figure a way to bring it closer to the states without doing away with it completely.
Dismantling The Department of Education
AP News reported a White House fact sheet stated the order would direct the Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon “to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure (of) the Department of Education and return education authority to the States, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”
If McMahon pulls this off and the department closes, people are worried for public schools in the United States. It could possibly leave a lot of children behind in education. The National Parents Union made a statement about the closure saying, “This isn’t fixing education.” They continued, “It’s making sure millions of children never get a fair shot. And we’re not about to let that happen without a fight.” This action will negatively affect a large portion of the country, but in the eyes of the supporters, it will allow children and their parents more freedom to tailor their education.
Final Thoughts
This is not the first instance where the right has attempted to reduce the size or the power of the department. Republicans have increasingly criticized the purpose and work done by the Department of Education over many years. Trump has also said in regards to the United State’s education that “We’re ranked at the very bottom of the list, but we’re at the top of the list in one thing: the cost per pupil,” in relation to other countries.
Supporters of this dismantling, such as Harrison Fields, the White House principal deputy press secretary, feel the order “will empower parents, states, and communities to take control and improve outcomes for all students.” Several Republican state representatives are expected to appear for the signing later today at 4 p.m.
