admin 
The key question of Trump and the US Department of Education has been making news for the past few days since he became the next US president. Trump has pledged to eliminate the US Department of Education and he has reasons for it.
With a new Trump education policy, the President is set to redefine education policy within the country. However, the education experts say that it is easier said than done.
What is Trump education policy in actuality?
At a September rally, Trump vowed to “ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education”. He further added that instead of inculcating the views of inappropriate racial or social materials into the minds of children, they should be prepared for future challenges.
Trump-era policy objectives include sending education back to the states which was written in Trump’s post on November 19. This decision mainly comes under the debate of state control over education or state vs federal education governance.
Trump administration education reform vividly explained facts that the US’s education system ranks 12th in the world and that the people of the US spend on their own rather than in the public education system. Trump wants it to be eliminated due to its poor performance and forcing the citizens to pay three times more for private education.
Even so, Trump suggested in Agenda 47 proposals cutting off funds for schools where teaching critical race theory or “transgender insanity” is witnessed. It might be considered as inequality in school funding which could create education reform challenges. Also, a critical race theory debate and cultural conflicts in schools would arise.
What does the US Department of Education do?
The US Department of Education is responsible for overseeing matters of education which includes funding several programs like those for low-income school districts and special education.
The department gets funding from the US government which helps in administrating federal student aid.
According to Rachel Perera, a fellow in Governance Studies at the Brown Center on Education Policy (Brookings Institution), the US Department of Education elimination would mean that such funding would be slashed or transfer of federal programs to states for their own form of administration would be observed.
What do people in the Senate have to say?
Trump’s plans were corroborated by Linda McMahon, his nominee for secretary of education’s verified after Trump won the 2024 elections that the US Department of Education would be shut down.
She narrated that the state control over education should be minimized, as she authenticated the President’s plans. It would be based on the fact that the federal government would downsize its intervention in education for which restoring state and local control over education funding would be seen.
Senator Mike Rounds introduced a bill last week that also suggested the abolishment of the department and the transference of existing educational programs to other federal agencies.
He gave the reason for this move that the Department of Education was not able to educate “a single student”. He said that it is high time that with the new government, new policies should be formulated to avoid more harm.
What do the experts say about Trump and the US Department of Education?
Experts are of the view that the US Department of Education elimination requires decentralization of education authority and dismantling of federal institutions along with a redirection of complex logistics and bipartisan congressional approval, which is near impossible.
There are policy contradictions in governance, based on experts’ views, since Trump would have to gain enough votes to pass such legislation in Congress, which would be difficult even in the Republican-controlled Senate and House.
If any such political influence in education is witnessed, which is promised in Trump administration education reform, it seems unlikely to gain traction in Congress. Even if enacted somehow, there would be roadblocks that Trump might not be seeing with his wide-ranging education agenda.
Derek Black, an education law and policy expert told media,
“I struggle to wrap my mind around how you get such a bill through Congress that sort of defunds the agency or eliminates the agency”.
He explained that it could be taken as an impact of federal funding cuts that were granted to the department. Since the Education Department is responsible for the enforcement of policies and laws that are to be followed by the schools of the state, the overseeing of funding that goes into local and state levels might create a problem, he said.
Moreover, federal oversight in K-12 education would negatively impact the entire education system if the department stops running, experts indicated. The experts warned it would hamper civil rights enforcement if the federal government takes its hand off the education system.
The regulatory framework for the Title I program involves major funding for the school districts as it injects billions of dollars into these schools. These schools cater to high percentages of students who come from low-income families.
Mr Black proposed that the entire regulatory regime of Title I cannot disappear as it is a favor for a large percentage of the US population. He thinks that the idea cannot be removed just because of an actual political appetite.
Wrapping Up
Since its formation in 1979, there have been great efforts in eliminating the department. Mostly it has been the Republicans. Ronald Reagan tried getting rid of it in 1980, but his plan did not work.
People see education as a state responsibility and according to Pew Research, 44 percent of Americans view the Department of Education as favorable. It certainly would be hard to eliminate such a department that already has developed a popular will among the citizens, keeping it a national interest.
FAQs
1. Why does Trump want to eliminate the Department of Education?
Trump believes the Department of Education has underperformed, ranking the U.S. education system 12th globally, while increasing costs for private education. He aims to decentralize education, restore state control, and eliminate federal influence over certain educational content, such as critical race theory and gender-related topics.
2. What is Trump’s education policy?
Trump’s education policy includes eliminating the Department of Education, cutting federal funding for schools that teach critical race theory or “transgender ideology,” promoting universal school choice, and transferring federal programs to states for localized administration.
3. What challenges are associated with eliminating the Department of Education?
Eliminating the Department would require:
- Congressional approval, which is difficult due to bipartisan resistance.
- Transferring federal programs like Title I and special education to other agencies or states.
- Addressing the loss of civil rights enforcement and funding oversight currently managed by the Department.
4. What programs does the Department of Education oversee?
The Department oversees:
- Title I funding for low-income school districts.
- Special education programs.
- Federal student aid for higher education.
- Enforcement of civil rights laws in education.
5. What do experts say about eliminating the Department of Education?
Experts argue it would be extremely challenging to dismantle the Department due to logistical, legal, and funding complexities. They warn it could lead to reduced federal oversight, inequality in school funding, and weakened enforcement of civil rights protections.
About The Author
