By Daniel 
Can Trump Really Get Rid of the Department of Education? Here’s What’s Happening
President Donald Trump has been talking for a while about shutting down the Department of Education, and last week, he signed an executive order to start the process. But here’s the catch: while the order lets him cut funding and staff, he doesn’t actually have the power to shut the department down completely that’s up to Congress.
What’s Changing?
On March 11, the Trump administration announced that about 300,000 Department of Education employees about half the total workforce were getting laid off. On top of that, leases for regional offices in cities like Boston, Chicago, and New York were canceled. Trump argues that this will cut down on government waste, but critics worry it could actually make things worse by increasing inefficiencies and fraud.
The Department of Education has been around in some form since the 1800s, though it became a standalone agency in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter. Over the years, conservatives have often criticized it, but the push to eliminate it entirely has never gotten this far until now.
Things ramped up after Trump put Linda McMahon (yes, the former WWE executive) in charge of the department. Shortly after taking office, she sent a memo to employees calling this their “final mission,” signaling that she was fully on board with shutting it down.
What Does the Department of Education Actually Do?
Despite what Trump and his allies claim, the department doesn’t control what schools teach or which books they use. That’s all handled at the state and local levels. What it does do is:
– Distribute federal funds for students with disabilities and those in poverty
– Protect students’ civil rights
– Collect and analyze school data
– Oversee federal student loans and Pell Grants
It has some influence on education policy, but it doesn’t dictate curriculum.
Can Trump Actually Shut It Down?
Short answer: No, not by himself. Only Congress can abolish a federal agency. While Republicans control both the House and Senate, they don’t have the 60 votes needed in the Senate to overcome a filibuster. That means Democrats can (and likely will) block any legislation to fully shut it down.
Still, Trump is pushing forward. He’s calling on Congress to pass a bill to eliminate the department, and Senator Bill Cassidy has already said he plans to introduce one. But experts say even if the department isn’t formally shut down, Trump could still weaken it by cutting its functions and spreading its duties across other agencies.
What Happens If the Department Is Abolished?
No one really knows. Historically, when federal agencies shut down, their responsibilities get handed off to other departments or state governments. That’s Trump’s general plan, but critics worry that without a clear structure in place, important programs could just disappear.
The biggest concern? Students who rely on federal education funding especially low-income and disabled students could lose access to crucial resources. Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, warned that the move could lead to larger class sizes, fewer job training programs, higher college costs, and reduced civil rights protections.
What About Student Loans?
If the Department of Education shuts down, its student loan programs could be transferred to the U.S. Treasury. Some experts think this could work, but others warn that the Treasury doesn’t have experience managing higher education loans, which could lead to a messy transition. The good news? Your loan terms and interest rates wouldn’t change, even if another agency takes over.
For now, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says student loans and Pell Grants will stay under the Department of Education unless Congress formally shuts it down.
So while Trump’s executive order is a big step toward his goal, there’s still a long road ahead before the Department of Education disappears and a lot of uncertainty about what happens next.