Department of Education At Risk

With the new Presidency, many changes have been introduced. One particular change that has alarmed both Democrats and Republicans alike is the attempted dismantling of the Department of Education. Trump’s administration has been seeking to dismantle the DoE and give full control to the states, local governments, and parents by signing an abundance of executive orders that severely limit the role of the federal government in education. While many view this as simply transitioning power to the states, many of Trump's new executive orders have effectively removed federal safeguards and protections for which the DoE is responsible. 

The Department of Education, established in 1979 by Congress, has provided public education and resources to millions of students. Under Trump’s supposed plan, there will be a significant loss of  resources for students nationally. While Trump cannot dismantle the department without Congressional approval, he can dictate the actions of the DoE through executive orders. Trump’s most recent executive order targets DEI programs, effectively: “Terminat[ing] diversity, equity and inclusion offices, positions, and programs in the federal government,” (Trump’s Executive Orders on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Explained). This directly means that any equity-based grant or funding is terminated. Not only has Trump taken away funding and resources, but he has also repealed all prior executive orders that ensure equal opportunity and prevent discrimination in the workplace. These changes are not about returning authority to states and communities but taking away federal protections that Trump and his administration deem unnecessary. 

Trump has not only been targeting DEI-based programs but also plans to cut funding that powers some of the most critical programs in our public schools. Title I schools, which educate predominantly low-income students, are currently facing possible loss of federal funds. Title I schools, due to their student population, receive additional funding to provide more resources for their disadvantaged students. With these funding cuts, not only will students face a loss of resources, but ultimately, these changes will serve to exacerbate our nation’s wealth and achievement gap. Another resource that Trump’s administration is trying to cut funding for is free school meals. This means that adolescents all over the country would lose access to the necessary nutrition that they may struggle to receive elsewhere. Trump’s administration also seeks to cut funding for “unnecessary” programs that ensure students with disabilities and students in special education programs receive the educational support they need to succeed. While doing this under the guise of transferring it to the states, the reality is that states rely on the federal government for funding, and the loss of that funding would interfere with necessary programs in schools.

Not only is federal funding at risk for primary and secondary education, but resources and funding for students in pursuit of higher education is at risk. According to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, 70% of undergraduate students received federal aid that went towards the cost of their education. With Trump’s current plan to gut the DoE, this would eliminate most federal funding for undergraduate students. Pell grants, which are need-based grants awarded to students who come from a low socioeconomic background, will no longer be available for students. This essentially means that millions of students will fall burden to the cost of education or will simply not pursue it. 

The bottom line is that under Trump’s administration, education will not flourish but rather suffer. The extreme loss of funds that communities will experience will significantly alter the opportunities and available resources for students of all different demographics. The extreme cuts to DEI programs, programs for disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and more, in the name of “transferring education to the states,” are doing nothing but harming our public education system and the youth of our country.