As part of his campaign for the upcoming presidential election, Donald Trump has promised sweeping changes to federal agencies. One of his most striking proposals is the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education.
Reasons Behind the Proposal:
Trump argues that the Department of Education exposes young people to inappropriate racial and sexual content. He also believes that educational authority should be returned to state governments rather than being managed at the federal level.
Legal Process:
Trump would not be able to unilaterally shut down the department; such an action would require approval from Congress and a 60-vote majority in the Senate. The Department of Education had a budget of $238 billion for the 2024 fiscal year. Eliminating it would have impacted millions of students and threatened $18.4 billion in Title I funding aimed at supporting disadvantaged schools.
Current Status:
During Trump’s presidency, the proposal to eliminate the Department of Education failed to gain traction. However, the pressure on the department and the debate over devolving its powers to the states continued to play a significant role in shaping U.S. education policy.
Trump: “In a few moments, I will sign an executive order to begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all.”