President Trump plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a proposal that would significantly reshape the nation’s education system. The step, part of a larger move to give power back states, has sparked debates among lawmakers, teachers, and families.
A draft executive order from the Trump Administration states, “the experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars—and the unaccountable bureaucrats those programs and dollars support—has failed our children, our teachers, and our families.” The order suggests that states should have full control over their education policies.If implemented, the plan could fundamentally change how schools achieve funding and set standards. Supporters argue that states should have complete control over education policy without oversight from the federal government.
Julia Margetta Morgan, a former deputy undersecretary of the Department of Education, believes that the initiative to close the department will be met with resistance from congress. She says “I expect that any actions to shutter the agency or to dismantle it will be challenged in the courts, and those challenges will prevail,” The proposal has had major push back from educators, parents, and lawmakers who argue that federal oversight is necessary to ensure equal educational opportunities. Many fear that eliminating the department will increase the gap between rich and poor schools.
The department of education also has a very important role in debt. The Education Department manages $1.5 trillion in student loan debt for more than 40 million borrowers. “I don’t think the education [department] should be handling the loans. That’s not their business,” Trump said. The Trump administration has not yet explained how they will relocate this debt across their departments. However, the debt might be going to the Department of Treasury. The Treasury department is also said to have the infrastructure to be able to handle 40 million new borrowers.
The fate of the Department of Education now rests in the hands of Congress. Trump and his supporters argue that eliminating the department will give power to the states, while opponents argue that it will undermine the fairness of our education system. As of now, it remains unclear whether the department will remain.
