Trump to Disband Department of Education Deemed Too Liberal

WASHINGTON DC, THURSDAY — U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign promise to dissolve the Department of Education is soon to be realized. For conservatives, this institution is considered too liberal. However, many parties oppose the plan.

According to a White House summary obtained by Reuters, Trump will sign an executive order to dissolve the department on Thursday (20/3/2025) local time. This order provides several directives to Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

"To take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return educational authority to the states, while continuing to ensure the provision of effective and uninterrupted services, programs, and benefits relied upon by American citizens," the summary states.

The Department of Education oversees approximately 100,000 public schools and 34,000 private schools in the U.S. About 85 percent of public school funding comes from state and local governments. Federal funding is significantly smaller.

The primary task of the department is to oversee fund management, including student loans and assistance programs. The current amount of student loans stands at 1.6 trillion US dollars. Available assistance programs include those for school meals, special needs teachers, arts programs, and infrastructure. Additionally, the department supervises the enforcement of civil rights.

The White House has not yet clarified which department will replace the functions of the Department of Education or whether it will be replaced at all. During the confirmation hearing, McMahon will advocate for funding for low-income schools and underprivileged students.

"The administration's goal is a better-functioning Department of Education," he said.

The Republican Party has intended to shut down the Department of Education for several decades. Since his first term in office (2017-2021), Trump has repeatedly called for the elimination of the Department of Education, although Congress did not act on it.

Trump said the department was wasteful and tainted by liberal ideology. The idea of closing it has recently gained popularity among conservative parent groups.

As such, the White House summary also includes a ban on any residual funding for any program or activity that implements diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or gender ideology. These initiatives are programs of President Joe Biden’s administration.

At the same time, Trump has pressed the Education Department to advance some of his agenda. He has ordered the Office of Civil Rights to prioritize anti-Semitism complaints.

Armed with the threat of federal education funding, Trump also ordered the Office of Civil Rights to investigate schools and colleges that defy his orders. He issued bans on transgender athletes participating in women's sports, pro-Palestinian activism and diversity programs.

On Wednesday (3/19/2025), the White House suspended $175 million in funding for the University of Pennsylvania. The administration pressured the campus to follow its policy on transgender sports.

Various groups have strongly opposed Trump's plan, arguing that Republicans are trying to push for-profit education.

“This is a somber day for millions of American children who depend on federal funding for quality education, including those living in poor and rural communities with parents who voted for Trump,” said Derrick Johnson, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a leading civil rights group.

National Parents Union President Keri Rodrigues said the department's role is to ensure that every child from every background has access to education. Disbanding it would disproportionately impact vulnerable communities.

“Removing it would undo decades of progress, leaving many children behind in an education system that has historically failed to protect the most marginalized groups,” Rodrigues said, as reported by NBC News.

Last week, a group of 21 Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit in federal court in Boston, Massachusetts, arguing that the plan to disband the Education Department and lay off employees is unlawful.

Earlier, the White House announced the layoffs of more than 1,300 Education Department employees. The layoffs leave 2,183 employees. When Trump takes office in January 2025, the number of employees will still be 4,133.

If the Education Department is disbanded, it would be the first Cabinet-level agency that Trump has closed. However, Trump would have to go through a number of procedures.

Basically, he needs an act of approval from Congress. But, that is unlikely. Republicans do hold a majority with 53 seats followed by 45 seats by Democrats and 2 seats by independents.

However, the bill to dissolve the institution would require 60 votes to pass. So far, Senate Democrats have shown no sign of backing Trump's plan.

“The impact of Trump and Musk’s slash-and-burn campaign will be felt across the state—by students and families who suffer the loss of department staff working to ensure rights under federal law,” said Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat. Musk is co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Even some Trump allies doubt the success of closing the Education Department without congressional approval. In 2023, the House considered an amendment to close the department. But 60 Republicans joined Democrats in rejecting it.

Even if Trump can't shut down the Education Department without Congress, he can still make it impossible for employees to work. He's already done that to USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development. (AP/Reuters)