In Washington, it has been reported that President Donald Trump is aiming for his newly confirmed education chief, Linda McMahon, to completely dissolve the Education Department. This bold move, which could be initiated through an executive order as early as this week, underscores Trump’s belief in transferring educational authority to the states. McMahon has already informed department employees that their ultimate mission is to reduce bureaucracy and reinvent its operations.
Yet, dismantling the entire department would be a complex endeavor typically requiring congressional approval. The Trump administration has already started reshaping the department, casting off various functions seen as unnecessary. In conjunction with these changes, an advisory group led by Elon Musk has slashed numerous contracts deemed extraneous and has significantly trimmed the Institute of Education Sciences.
The key responsibilities of the Education Department are primarily financial, as it annually channels billions of dollars to schools and colleges while managing the sprawling federal student loan portfolio. Shutting it down would necessitate the reallocation of these financial tasks to other entities. Furthermore, the department plays a crucial regulatory role, particularly in services provided to students with disabilities or those from low-income backgrounds.
Federal educational funding is critical to Trump’s broader plans for educational institutions. He has promised to withdraw federal funds from schools and colleges promoting themes like critical race theory or what’s described as “transgender insanity.” Instead, he aims to reward initiatives supporting universal school choice and the end of teacher tenure. Federal contributions only account for about 14% of public school budgets, but they are a vital resource for higher education institutions, mainly through research grants and financial aid.
When it comes to student loans and financial aid, the department is responsible for about $1.5 trillion in student loan debt affecting over 40 million borrowers. It also oversees Pell Grants and the FAFSA system, crucial for students receiving financial aid. The Biden administration had prioritized student loan cancellations, although Trump regards these efforts as legally unsound and unfair. He has yet to provide a detailed plan for handling student debt.
On the civil rights front, the department’s Office for Civil Rights enforces laws protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ students and those from minority backgrounds. Trump has proposed shifting the focus in this office, emphasizing complaints of antisemitism and investigating cases related to transgender athletes. He also intends to challenge diversity-centric policies, labeling them as discriminatory.
Regarding college accreditation, although the Education Department doesn’t directly accredit schools, it holds the power to evaluate accrediting agencies. Accreditation is necessary for institutions to access federal funds for student aid. Trump has promised to tackle what he sees as the influence of “radical left accreditors” and has hinted at possibly restructuring the accreditation process to reflect more traditional American values.
The Education Department also plays a significant role in distributing funds for K-12 schools, especially supporting programs for low-income and disabled students. Trump advocates for delegation of these roles to individual states, though specifics remain scarce. The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 provides a roadmap, suggesting gradually transferring some of these responsibilities to the Department of Health and Human Services, followed by converting them into unrestricted state grants.
This move aligns with Trump’s vision of drastically altering the federal landscape by shifting established educational responsibilities away from the national government to local authorities, sparking both debate and scrutiny across the educational spectrum.
