President Trump’s team is considering a sweeping plan that could dismantle core functions of the Education Department. This effort, backed by Elon Musk and his supporters, aims to shrink the federal government’s reach.
Key Facts:
- Officials are weighing an executive order to either shift or close parts of the Education Department that aren’t mandated by law.
- The agency was established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter.
- Some advisers want to delay any final moves until after Linda McMahon’s Senate confirmation hearing for education secretary.
- A Wall Street Journal poll found that 61% of voters oppose eliminating the department.
- Complete abolition requires an act of Congress, and earlier efforts have stalled.
The Rest of The Story:
Discussions in the White House have centered on how to remove certain responsibilities from the Education Department and possibly merge or hand them over to other agencies, reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The administration believes that many of the department’s tasks can be delegated to states or handled through smaller offices.
BREAKING: The Trump Administration is reportedly considering a plan to dismantle the Department of Education
It’s happening! pic.twitter.com/pXYG6HDYiC
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 3, 2025
Lawmakers remain divided.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced a bill to abolish the department by 2026, saying that parents and communities know better than “unelected bureaucrats in Washington.”
Yet previous attempts, like Trump’s proposal to merge the education and labor departments, never made it into law.
There is also pressure from some corners of the public, as the department enforces civil-rights protections and administers student loans, which many Americans view as vital services.
Commentary:
The Education Department’s performance has been disappointing for years. Test scores continue to slip, and many families feel that children are learning less while schools spend more.
There is growing concern about the amount of money funneled into top-heavy administrative costs and programs that appear to push ideology rather than real learning.
Teachers’ unions often prioritize their own interests. Negotiations over pay, benefits, and policies frequently overshadow meaningful improvements in classrooms.
Meanwhile, students still lag behind peers in other developed countries.
The department’s budget has ballooned over time, yet basic proficiency in reading, math, and science does not reflect this investment.
Programs come and go, but children’s academic progress stays largely the same or even declines.
Better oversight is crucial. If the department remains intact, its mission should shift toward ensuring high-quality education and accountability, rather than propping up endless bureaucracy.
It is time to reconsider the entire setup. Reforming or scaling back the Education Department could drive states to innovate and focus on what truly benefits children.
The Bottom Line:
The push to scale down or remove the Education Department faces both political resistance and voter skepticism.
Still, the debate signals that major changes to federal education oversight may lie ahead.
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