Trump’s Bold Pledge: Abolishing The Department Of Education

President-elect Donald Trump has promised to dismantle the Department of Education, often portraying the agency as a symbol of federal overreach that meddles in American families' lives.

“We will ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education,” Trump declared at a Wisconsin rally in September. “We’ll drain the government education swamp and stop using taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America’s youth.”

The Department of Education became a Cabinet-level agency in 1979, under President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat who fulfilled a campaign promise to the National Education Association, one of the country's largest teachers' unions. Previously, federal education programs were managed by other departments. Although Trump has not detailed his plan to eliminate the department—which would require an act of Congress—it remains unclear how federally funded education programs would fare without it.

What Does the Department of Education Do?

The Department of Education distributes federal funds to states, schools, and students. It channels around $28 billion a year to K-12 schools, including funds for programs like Title I, which aids children from low-income families, and IDEA, which supports children with disabilities. These programs uphold the agency’s purpose of ensuring “equal educational opportunity for every individual.” 

The department also plays a significant role in higher education, providing $30 billion in Pell Grants for low-income college students and managing a $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio.

Oversight and Regulation

Beyond funding, the Department of Education oversees civil rights and issues federal regulations. For example, its Office of Civil Rights investigates discrimination complaints in schools, which surged following the Hamas attack on Israel last October. The department has also addressed divisive issues, such as protections for transgender students and student loan forgiveness regulations—both currently embroiled in legal battles.

Though powerful, the department’s authority has limits. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it could not mandate school closures or reopenings, as such decisions remained with state and local governments. Despite threats from Trump to cut federal funding for schools that did not reopen in fall 2020, the executive branch lacked the power to do so unilaterally.

Federal Funding Comes with Strings Attached

Federal education funding, such as Title I and IDEA, requires compliance with specific conditions and reporting requirements. “For those of us concerned about the red tape the Department of Education creates, the question is how to address those rules and conditions,” said Frederick Hess, director of education policy at the American Enterprise Institute. Some experts suggest using “block grants” to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, though such solutions wouldn’t eliminate the department’s influence entirely.

Would Ending the Department Cut Education Funding?

Federal support for education programs predated the Department of Education’s establishment, so reallocating responsibilities to other federal agencies could allow certain programs to continue. Marguerite Roza, director of Georgetown University’s Edunomics Lab, suggests schools may still receive funding. For instance, the Title I program remains popular across party lines.

Historically, Congress has often increased the department’s budget—even under administrations proposing cuts—due to bipartisan resistance to funding reductions. 

Can Trump Abolish the Department of Education?

Dissolving a federal agency requires an act of Congress, and while calls to eliminate the Department of Education have surfaced periodically, they’ve struggled to gain traction. Even during Trump’s first term, a proposal to merge the Education and Labor departments stalled in a Republican-controlled Congress.

As Republicans aim for congressional majorities, the possibility of fulfilling Trump’s pledge remains uncertain. New Senate Republicans like Bernie Moreno and Tim Sheehy support the idea, but even with GOP control, there may not be enough support in Congress to close the Department of Education.

With Congress likely to continue its divided stance, Trump’s plan faces an uphill battle—though its boldness underscores a broader debate over federal influence in education and local control.