The future of the US Department of Education is under threat: efforts to eliminate it are intensifying
6 march 2025 в 22:37
The future of the US Department of Education is now under threat as efforts to eliminate it are gaining momentum. Changes in the administration of President Donald Trump seemed inevitable, given his recent history of budget cuts to various federal agencies. During his 2024 election campaign, he also promised to «drain the swamp of government education» and «stop the abuse of taxpayers to indoctrinate America’s youth with things you don’t want your youth to hear». Trump also emphasized his desire to «return education to the states», - according to CNN.
After winning the election, Trump appointed former WWE co-founder Linda McMahon as the US Secretary of Education. Now, according to The Wall Street Journal, McMahon, confirmed on March 3, is preparing to begin the process of liquidating the department in accordance with a directive prepared by White House staff.
The US Department of Education is a cabinet-level agency in the government. According to the agency’s official website, its goal is to «promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access for students of all ages».
The department oversees several aspects of education in America, including federal financial aid policy for education, data collection and relevant research in schools, raising public awareness of educational issues, and prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education for all students.
According to the agency’s official website, education is the responsibility of states and local authorities across the country, with 92 percent of funding for elementary and secondary education coming from states, while only 8 percent comes from the federal level.
According to NPR, the Department of Education employs about 4,400 people, with an annual budget of $ 79 billion. According to the publication, the Trump administration sent «dozens» of department employees on paid leave, as he did with diversity, equality, and inclusion workers in the government earlier this year.
Trump signed several executive orders when he took office for the second time in January 2025. According to many sources, in his upcoming action, the president plans to significantly reduce the department’s budget. Although he may modify the department, its complete elimination will require an act of Congress. The department was established by an act of Congress in 1979. As part of the changes to the Department of Education, Trump is likely to be able to cut certain programs that were not created by Congress, according to NPR.
In the draft directive reported on March 5, McMahon was instructed to «take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education» based on the «maximum possible and legally permissible» basis.
The directive also justifies the closure, stating that «since its creation in 1979, the Department of Education has spent over $ 1 trillion, with virtually no improvement in student reading and math outcomes»
After winning the election, Trump appointed former WWE co-founder Linda McMahon as the US Secretary of Education. Now, according to The Wall Street Journal, McMahon, confirmed on March 3, is preparing to begin the process of liquidating the department in accordance with a directive prepared by White House staff.
The US Department of Education is a cabinet-level agency in the government. According to the agency’s official website, its goal is to «promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access for students of all ages».
The department oversees several aspects of education in America, including federal financial aid policy for education, data collection and relevant research in schools, raising public awareness of educational issues, and prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education for all students.
According to the agency’s official website, education is the responsibility of states and local authorities across the country, with 92 percent of funding for elementary and secondary education coming from states, while only 8 percent comes from the federal level.
According to NPR, the Department of Education employs about 4,400 people, with an annual budget of $ 79 billion. According to the publication, the Trump administration sent «dozens» of department employees on paid leave, as he did with diversity, equality, and inclusion workers in the government earlier this year.
Trump signed several executive orders when he took office for the second time in January 2025. According to many sources, in his upcoming action, the president plans to significantly reduce the department’s budget. Although he may modify the department, its complete elimination will require an act of Congress. The department was established by an act of Congress in 1979. As part of the changes to the Department of Education, Trump is likely to be able to cut certain programs that were not created by Congress, according to NPR.
In the draft directive reported on March 5, McMahon was instructed to «take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education» based on the «maximum possible and legally permissible» basis.
The directive also justifies the closure, stating that «since its creation in 1979, the Department of Education has spent over $ 1 trillion, with virtually no improvement in student reading and math outcomes»
© Artemenko Olga
