In a historic and controversial move, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the U.S. Department of Education to begin the process of shutting down. The order, signed Thursday, mandates newly confirmed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.”

The Executive Order and Its Immediate Impact

The executive order follows through on a long-standing Republican argument that education policy should be left to individual states rather than controlled at the federal level. Trump, flanked by Republican governors from Texas, Indiana, Florida, and Ohio, emphasized that states would now be responsible for overseeing education policies.

“We have to get our children educated,” Trump said during the signing ceremony. “We’re not doing well with the world of education in this country.”

Last week, the Department of Education abruptly closed several offices and issued “reduction in force” notices to approximately 1,300 employees, a move that signals the administration’s determination to follow through with the department’s downsizing. The department is also terminating leases for offices in major cities, including New York, Boston, Chicago, and Cleveland.

The History of the Department of Education

The Department of Education was first established in 1867 under President Andrew Johnson but was quickly reduced in scope due to concerns over federal overreach. It remained a small office under various government agencies until 1979 when President Jimmy Carter elevated it to a cabinet-level department. Since then, it has played a key role in federal education policy, including funding programs that support disadvantaged students and overseeing student financial aid programs.

How the Department of Education Affects Student Loans and Public Schools

Currently, the Department of Education operates with a budget of approximately $268 billion. Its two primary functions are:

1. Federal Student Aid: About 60% of the department’s budget ($160 billion) is allocated to federal student loans and grants. This includes Pell Grants, subsidized and unsubsidized federal loans, and the federal work-study program.
2. K-12 Education Funding: The department provides critical funding for public schools, especially through Title I, which supports low-income students, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which funds special education programs.

If the Department of Education is dismantled, these programs would either need to be transferred to other government agencies or left to the states to manage. Trump has insisted that key programs such as Pell Grants and Title I funding will be preserved, but it is unclear how they will be administered in the absence of a centralized education department.

Can Trump Actually Eliminate the Department of Education?

Despite the executive order, Trump cannot unilaterally dissolve a cabinet-level department without congressional approval. Since the department was created by an act of Congress, it would require another act of Congress to fully eliminate it. With Democrats controlling part of the legislature, the likelihood of such a law passing remains slim.

However, the administration can significantly weaken the department by shifting its functions to other agencies, reducing its budget, and eliminating positions within the department.

The Potential Consequences for Students, Educators, and Schools

If the department is dissolved or its functions are significantly altered, the impact on students and schools could be significant:

• Federal Student Loans: Without centralized oversight, federal student loan programs could become fragmented, making it harder for students to access financial aid.
• K-12 Education: Schools in low-income areas that rely on federal funding could face major financial challenges.
• Special Education Programs: Without federal oversight, protections for students with disabilities may vary widely from state to state.
• Civil Rights Protections: The department currently ensures compliance with anti-discrimination laws; its elimination could weaken enforcement.

What Happens Next?

Trump has suggested that Congress should pass legislation to formalize the closure of the department, though it remains uncertain whether he will gain enough support. In the meantime, Secretary McMahon is expected to outline a plan for redistributing the department’s key functions to other federal and state agencies.

For now, educators, students, and families face a period of uncertainty as they await further details on how the federal education landscape will shift in the coming months.

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