In 1980, just two months after the Education Department opened, Republicans called for its closure. Now, over forty years later, President Trump is pushing harder than any Republican past him to make that happen.
Shutting down the Education Department would need Congress to approve it, but Trump’s focus on this goal has sparked new discussions about the federal role in education. His efforts unite different factions of the Republican Party, from traditional members to loyal supporters of his Make America Great Again movement.
Christopher Rufo, a key thinker at the conservative Manhattan Institute, describes this movement as a “counterrevolution against a hostile and nihilistic bureaucracy.”
The roots of Republican opposition to the Education Department trace back to the agency’s creation in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter. Many Republicans believed in limited government and felt that education should be managed locally rather than federally. They argued that local control was essential for effective education.
When Ronald Reagan became president in 1981, he campaigned on reducing the federal government’s role in various areas, including education. In a 1982 State of the Union address, he demanded that Congress shut down both the Education Department and the Energy Department. He sought to cut government spending and reduce the federal workforce, but struggled to gain support, especially from Democrats.
As time passed, the push to eliminate the Education Department became less urgent but never fully disappeared. In the 1990s, Newt Gingrich proposed abolishing it. Fast forward to the 2008 Republican primary, where both Ron Paul and Mitt Romney discussed shrinking or terminating the department. Recently, a proposal to eliminate the agency was voted down in the Republican-controlled House, even with significant support from party members.
The Education Department manages federal funding for public schools, oversees college financial aid, and enforces civil rights laws in education. John B. King Jr., a former education secretary, highlighted its role in supporting students with disabilities and ensuring equal access for all students. He warned that removing the department would harm students and families.
During his first presidential campaign in 2016, Trump rarely focused on education, mainly criticizing Common Core standards. However, as he prepares for his 2024 campaign, he aligns with the concerns of parents who opposed school closures during the pandemic and other restrictive measures. This movement has rallied against education policies seen as progressive and contrary to parental values.
Trump’s latest strategy intertwines his goal of dismantling the Education Department with his attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in federal agencies. Recent drafts of an executive order directed by Trump have specifically targeted these programs for termination.
The 2025 plan, a conservative roadmap for reshaping the federal government, also calls for dismantling the Education Department. It criticizes the agency for promoting what it calls “racist, anti-American propaganda” in schools and argues that education must be more responsive to parents. However, it doesn’t clearly outline how giving more control to local districts will improve education outcomes.
Overall, the ongoing debate about the Education Department reflects deeper divisions over the role of government in education and the future of the country’s educational landscape.
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Source linkUnited States Politics and Government,Presidential Election of 2024,Conservatism (US Politics),Executive Orders and Memorandums,Education (K-12),Diversity Initiatives,Civil Rights and Liberties,Education Department (US),Republican Party,Trump, Donald J,McMahon, Linda E
