Published: March 21, 2025 ✍️ By: Global World Citizen Newsroom 📍 Category: Global Politics | Technology | Defense 📚 Source: GlobalWorldCitizen.com
President Donald Trump has officially unveiled a bold and controversial initiative to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, a move that could reshape America’s educational landscape and affect everything from student loans to public school funding and national education data collection.
The announcement marks the administration’s latest effort to drastically reduce the size of the federal government—part of a broader plan led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is informally overseen by tech mogul Elon Musk.
What’s at Stake?
The Department of Education currently oversees:
- $1.6 trillion in federal student loans
- Billions in Title I funds that support underprivileged school districts
- Programs for students with disabilities
- National research and data tracking on literacy, math scores, and school performance
- Enforcement of civil rights in education
Its potential shutdown raises serious concerns over who will manage these critical programs—and how they’ll be administered moving forward.
“We Want to Do This Right,” Says McMahon
Education Secretary Linda McMahon—recently confirmed—emphasized during her hearing that the administration intends to collaborate with Congress for a legal and orderly transition.
“We’d like to do this right. We’re working to ensure our plan can gain support from both chambers,” she said.
Legislative Push and Executive Action
The announcement follows recent legislative moves from Republicans like Sen. Mike Rounds, who introduced a bill proposing the department’s dissolution and redistribution of its functions—placing student loans under the Treasury, for example.
Meanwhile, the administration has already begun slashing the department’s workforce. On March 11, over 1,300 employees were let go, cutting the agency’s staff in half.
Legal Battles Ahead
Critics, including student advocacy groups, are preparing to challenge the move in court. Aaron Ament, president of Student Defense, stated:
“There’s no executive order the President can sign that legally eliminates the Department of Education. We are ready to fight this in court.”
Education Without the ED?
Eliminating the department would leave a vacuum in key areas like:
- Pell Grant distribution
- Civil rights enforcement in education
- Tracking of national academic progress
- Support for low-income and special needs students
Sen. Patty Murray warned:
“The department plays a vital role in delivering real services to students and families every day—from civil rights protection to critical financial aid.”
A Shift Toward State Control
Trump and GOP allies argue that education should be managed by states and local communities, not federal agencies.
“Removing bureaucratic barriers empowers parents and teachers,” said McMahon. “States will have more autonomy, and educators will be free from top-down micromanagement.”
A Broader Agenda
The move aligns with the goals of DOGE, a Trump-era initiative focused on reducing government waste. Former DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy previously called for the Department’s elimination, pointing to poor student reading scores as a justification.
Ironically, education experts note that national data on student performance—like reading proficiency—wouldn’t exist without the Department’s data infrastructure.
What Comes Next?
While the executive order marks a major step, dismantling a federal agency requires significant legislative and legal action. Experts remain divided on whether such a move would improve education outcomes or create chaos in an already strained system.
For now, the battle over the future of federal education in the United States has officially begun—and the world is watching.