Trump’s Proposal to Eliminate the U.S. Education Department Sparks Alarming Concerns for Student Protections

President Donald Trump has big plans for the U.S. Department of Education. He’s pushed for Linda McMahon, his pick to head the department, to eventually “put herself out of a job.” This reflects a longstanding Republican desire to dismantle the department, which they argue represents federal overreach since education isn’t mentioned in the Constitution.

The Department of Education has been around for nearly 50 years. Trump wants to revive his promise from past campaigns to eliminate it and return control of education to the states. This idea raises questions for many New Yorkers about what it might mean for students and families.

Trump is reportedly preparing an executive order aimed at shutting down the department. His history includes orders tackling initiatives like diversity programs in schools and restrictions related to students’ gender identities, aiming to promote school choice instead. While the New York State Education Department reviews these plans, they maintain that the federal government can’t simply ignore existing laws.

One of the major challenges Trump faces is that dissolving the Education Department would require Congress to act. They would need to reassign the department’s responsibilities and budget to other areas of the government, which is no small feat. The department employs around 4,000 people, and there’s concern about how losing their functions could impact federal funding for schools, especially for low-income students and those with disabilities.

New York’s Education Commissioner, Betty Rosa, expressed apprehension about potential funding losses. She believes legislators will think twice before making changes that could harm their communities. After all, these decisions affect families directly and could create a significant backlash come election time.

So, what does the Department of Education actually do? It plays a crucial role in public school funding. About 14% of public school budgets come from federal funds, which total between $800-900 billion per year for K-12 education. The department focuses on aiding schools with a high number of low-income students and ensuring educational rights for students with disabilities. For instance, under Title I, it provides substantial funding to schools that serve many needy students.

Christine Clayton, an education professor at Pace University, points out that eliminating the department could complicate efforts to enforce federal laws about equal access to education. The purpose of these laws is to promote equity, especially for students from diverse backgrounds.

Research shows that where students live—often their ZIP code—can strongly influence their educational success. While some may see returning education responsibilities to the states as a simple fix, it’s crucial to consider whether this would truly lead to a fair system for all students.

Ken Mitchell, another education expert, suggests that Trump’s administration might reconfigure federal money to benefit private schools more, potentially reshaping existing funding programs instead of cutting them entirely. He points to Trump’s school choice promotion as a strategy that could push more public resources toward private education.

If the Trump administration encourages changes in state educational frameworks, lessons learned from past incentives like the Obama-era Race to the Top grant program could be revisited to motivate states to align more closely with federal goals.

Without federal oversight, protections for students might diminish. The Department of Education’s role in safeguarding equal rights in schooling could be fundamentally altered, impacting countless students across the nation.