US President Donald Trump has enacted an executive order aimed at dismantling the federal Department of Education, fulfilling a campaign promise to eliminate an agency frequently criticised by conservatives. Trump has labelled the department as inefficient and influenced by liberal ideologies, arguing that its elimination would improve the academic performance of American students. However, it should be noted that fully disbanding the department requires congressional action, as it was established by law in 1979. Republican lawmakers announced plans to introduce legislation to achieve this goal.
Despite the push to dissolve the department, the White House has indicated that some essential functions will remain, including the management of Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell Grants, and assistance for students with disabilities. The administration also plans to continue overseeing federal student loans.
Trump stated that state governments would be better suited to handle educational responsibilities than the federal government, claiming, “It’s doing us no good,” during a ceremony at the White House. The administration has already initiated significant cuts to the department, halving its workforce and implementing reductions in important divisions such as the Office for Civil Rights and the Institute of Education Sciences, which collects data on educational progress in the US.
Critics of the move, including advocates for public education, warn that dismantling the department could exacerbate inequalities in the educational system, particularly affecting children in poor and rural communities who rely on federal funding for quality education. Derrick Johnson, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, described the order as a “dark day” for American children, emphasising that many disadvantaged families supported Trump in the hopes of better educational opportunities.
Democratic lawmakers have vowed to contest the executive order both in the courts and in Congress and have called on Republicans to join them in opposing the initiative. The White House has yet to clarify which specific functions of the Department of Education will be reassigned or completely eliminated.
Currently, the department plays a critical role in the distribution of billions of dollars to schools and the management of approximately US$1.6 trillion in federal student loans. Its operations predominantly involve financial management, including support for various aid programmes in educational institutions, such as school meals and resources for homeless students, as well as civil rights enforcement.