WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump faces significant hurdles in his plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. While aiming to redefine U.S. education policy, the process involves complex logistics, bipartisan congressional approval, and reallocation of federal programs, making it a challenging endeavor. Experts suggest it’s unlikely to succeed in Congress and could hinder Trump’s broader education agenda.
“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,” Derek Black, an education law and policy expert, told States Newsroom. He suggests downsizing the department by reducing its budget and workforce rather than eliminating it entirely.
What does the department do?
The U.S. Department of Education, although not involved in public school curriculums, influences education through funding programs like those for low-income districts and special education. According to Rachel Perera from the Brookings Institution, abolishing the department would require reassigning these programs to other federal agencies, raising concerns about resource adequacy.
Sen. Mike Rounds has introduced a bill to abolish the department, transferring current programs to other agencies. He stated, “the federal Department of Education has never educated a single student, and it’s long past time to end this bureaucratic Department.” The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 outlines a plan for dismantling the department by reallocating and eliminating certain programs.
‘Inherent logical inconsistencies’
Trump’s nominee for Education secretary, Linda McMahon, is expected to play a key role in promoting universal school choice, parental rights, and reducing federal involvement in education. However, Trump plans to cut funding for schools teaching content deemed inappropriate, while boosting funds for states following specific policies. This approach presents “inherent logical inconsistencies,” as Rachel Perera points out, since it conflicts with the idea of minimizing federal roles in education.
Trump’s education plans include measures like adopting a “Parental Bill of Rights” and universal school choice, which would necessitate federal oversight, contrary to his stated goals.
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