In a significant move, President Donald Trump on Friday outlined his vision for a radical restructuring of the federal government’s involvement in education. This reorganization includes plans to dismantle the Education Department and shift its responsibilities, particularly concerning federal student loans and programs for students with disabilities, to other agencies.
During a White House event, Trump announced that the Small Business Administration (SBA) would assume control of federal student loans, suggesting that this change would lead to better service for borrowers. Additionally, he indicated that programs related to students with disabilities would be transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). However, his executive order did not specify a timeline or detailed procedures for these changes.
This announcement has sparked concern among various advocacy groups who anticipate potential disruptions from the reorganization. The SBA also revealed plans to reduce its workforce by 43%, casting doubts on its ability to handle the Education Department’s substantial $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio.
Jessica Thompson, senior vice president of the Institute of College Access and Success, expressed skepticism regarding the SBA’s capacity to manage the loans effectively, fearing inconsistent service could lead to costly errors affecting both borrowers and taxpayers.
Trump’s order argues that the Education Department’s existing resources are inadequate to manage the extensive loan portfolio. However, post-reduction, the SBA will be left with fewer than 4,000 employees, comparable to the Education Department’s size before budget cuts under Trump’s administration.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon outlined her strategy for phasing out the department in an article for Fox News, emphasizing that while an immediate shutdown isn’t planned, regulatory rollbacks and transferring operations will proceed. She highlighted plans to reassign functions like the distribution of federal funds and civil rights enforcement to other entities.
This planned reorganization has raised alarms among parent groups about potential weakened protections for children with disabilities. The National Parents Union voiced concerns over whether HHS might approach learning disabilities from a medical perspective, potentially turning educational needs into insurance issues.
Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, questioned if HHS would fund necessary educational interventions, asserting that children’s unique educational needs should not be conflated with medical conditions.
Despite Trump’s executive maneuvers, only Congress holds the authority to formally disband the Education Department. Republican lawmakers are gearing up to introduce legislation to dissolve the agency, although they face formidable opposition from Democratic counterparts who argue that such steps overstep presidential authority.
Democrats also contend that the federal laws, namely the Higher Education Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, mandate federal oversight of loans and disability services within the Education Department.
Tom Harnisch from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association expressed doubts about other agencies’ capability to manage the vast student loan responsibilities, questioning the rationale behind this bureaucratic overhaul.
In response to these developments, House Democrats proposed a resolution to obtain records related to the department’s dismantling efforts. The resolution may progress to the full House if the Education and Workforce Committee acts on it in time.
Trump has frequently criticized the Education Department as an inefficient use of taxpayer funds, accusing it of being swayed by liberal ideology. He advocates for handing over more educational control to states, which he believes will rectify the challenges facing the U.S. education system.
Since its inception in 1979, the Education Department has overseen substantial spending, yet student performance metrics remain stagnant, according to McMahon.
The push for the department’s closure aligns with a longstanding conservative desire to eliminate what they see as an unnecessary bureaucratic layer hindering local education systems. Present at the event were several Republican governors and activists advocating for increased parental control in education decisions.
