Trump Tears Down the Department of Education

As Donald Trump embarks on his second term in the White House, his presidency has been marked by intense political conflicts and controversy. The early days of his second term have included bold executive actions and a renewed push for policies that resonate with his agenda. For young people across America, several policies and initiatives emerging from this presidency could have a lasting impact on their futures.

The Department of Education (ED) is a cabinet-level agency that was established by Congress in 1980 through the Department of Education Organization Act. Sitting under the executive’s authority, it implements policies and distributes federal funding for education. Every new executive term, the president is required to appoint a secretary that oversees the department. Once they are confirmed by the Senate, it is their duty to inform the president the on issues regarding education in America.

Trump and the Department of Education

In the past, Trump repeatedly expressed his desire to dismantle the agency. In this term of his presidency, he appointed Secretary Linda McMahon, who was confirmed by a 51-45 majority in the Senate on March 3rd. Following her confirmation, she sent an email to the employees in her department, stating her “final mission” was to “eliminate [the] bureaucratic bloat here at the Department of Education,” signaling a desire to scale back its influence.

A shutdown of the department has been a goal for conservatives in Congress for years. In fact, there have been multiple bills introduced in the past (H.R.2289, S.4979, H.R.1318 — are just some of the few) but the ED still stood with bipartisan support. Now, with a conservative majority Congress and Executive branch, and the topic receiving more attention than ever, some have previously said it is possible to foresee the closing of the department.

What does dismantling the ED actually mean?

President Trump cannot eliminate the department entirely through an executive order. Since the Department of Education was established by congressional legislation, it can only be fully dismantled through a new law passed by Congress.

In fact, on March 6, 2025, Trump was expected to sign an executive order that was said to dismantle the Department of Education. However, the draft was unclear of the steps Secretary McMahon would take, and the order was never signed.

Although closing the department to the full extent may be difficult, taking away its functions and purpose is possible. With the layoffs the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has conducted, along with voluntary resignations of employees through buyouts, the workforce of the ED has almost halved in size. The majority of these layoffs affected employees from federal student aid, responsible for managing college loans and financial assistance; the Institute of Education, which conducts research and evaluates national educational progress; and the Office for Civil Rights, which handles discrimination complaints and civil rights laws.

Contrary to common belief, the ED doesn’t create school curriculums or set standards for what should be taught, those are local and state government responsibilities. Instead, it focuses on research and providing funding to ensure that all students across the country have access to the resources they need for an adequate education. For example, it distributes funding to lower-income schools, grants billions of dollars in federal loans for students of higher institutions, and protects against racial and sex discrimination in schools. The ED works to promote educational equity, aiming to close achievement gaps and ensure that underserved communities receive the support that their students need to succeed. By dismantling the ED, these communities that are already facing educational disparities would be most affected. This includes low-income students, students in rural areas, students of color, and those with disabilities. 

What about MCPS?

Federal funding accounts for a small fraction of the MCPS budget. In the fiscal year 2025, it only accounted for 3.4% percent of the budget, and this number stays relatively constant. While 3.4% might seem insignificant at first glance, it represents approximately $100 million— an amount that plays a crucial role in supporting educational initiatives for underserved students under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). 

The ESSA is the main national law for education in the US, and funding is given to local governments under its various titles. For example, Title I gives funding for low-income students and neglected and delinquent youth, and Title III is for students needing support for English language acquisition. Without the funding for these programs, Montgomery County and other local governments would have to squeeze that revenue for the budget from the tax dollars of their residents. For counties in which federal funding accounts for a larger portion of their budget, a lack of significant funds could have a substantial effect on students’ education.

Trump Officially Signs an Executive Order

On March 20, 2025, Trump officially signed an executive order stating to close the department.

The official order states, “The Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”

The order directing the return of educational authority to states and local communities introduces a highly complex and unprecedented shift in U.S. educational policy. The language of the order is broad and lacks specific steps, which leaves considerable room for interpretation and raises numerous questions about how the transition will unfold. Given the intricacies of federal education policies and programs, the implementation of such an order would require detailed planning, legal analysis, and coordination at all levels of government.

As the nation grapples with this sweeping shift in educational policy, the long-term effects on students, teachers, and communities will be seen in the upcoming months. But for now, many will continue to wonder how the future of American education will evolve without federal oversight.