**The US Department of Education plays a crucial role in funding and supporting students, but its future is uncertain as Trump seeks to push his agenda amid political hurdles.**
**Trump Weighs Closure of Education Department: What’s at Stake?**
**Trump Weighs Closure of Education Department: What’s at Stake?**
**The President considers an executive order to dismantle a cabinet-level department, a notable conservative agenda item.**
President Donald Trump is contemplating an executive order to dismantle the US Department of Education, aligning with long-standing wishes of conservative factions. The move, a fulfillment of his campaign pledge, reports suggest, would involve terminating certain programs and redistributing some functions to other government branches.
The draft order, seen by the Wall Street Journal, suggests that Trump is poised to instruct the recently confirmed Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure" of the department "to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law." However, completely abolishing the department entails a Congressional vote, a feat that poses significant challenges.
The Department of Education, established in 1979, manages federal student loan programs, administers Pell grants for low-income students, and enforces civil rights laws in federally funded schools. Its budget for the fiscal year 2024 is about $238 billion, accounting for less than 2% of the federal budget, with approximately 4,400 employees—the smallest workforce among cabinet-level departments.
Though Trump is an advocate for reducing the size of the federal government, a complete shutdown of the Education Department would require support from Congress, including a possible supermajority in the Senate, which is currently a tough barrier considering the Republican's slim majority.
In past legislatures, attempts to eliminate the department have failed, illustrating a lack of bipartisan support for such a drastic measure. Critics within the party, championing the closure, have labeled the department as an influential entity that promotes "woke" ideologies, promoting a view of education better managed at the state or local level.
Backing candidates for a more extensive school choice initiative, Trump’s allies suggest that student loans could be better managed through the US Department of Treasury. Despite these arguments, the prospect of dismantling the Department of Education reignites debates on the fundamental direction of American education and governance.
