WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump Administration’s commitment to dismantling the Education Department has begun, with plans to redistribute its major responsibilities to other federal agencies. This initiative is part of an overarching strategy to promote a lesser federal role in education, a pledge President Trump made during his campaign.
As part of this transition, various offices that cater to the needs of schools and colleges will be transferred to departments including Labor and Interior. Despite these changes, Education officials assert that the federal funding allocated to states and institutions will remain unaffected. However, there is ambiguity surrounding whether current employees will retain their positions.
Since taking office, President Trump has criticized the Education Department, branding it as a bastion of liberal ideology. Efforts to disassemble its operations have intensified, particularly following a Supreme Court ruling which sanctioned significant layoffs that halved the department's workforce in July.
Recently, Education Secretary Linda McMahon has undertaken a public campaign advocating for the department's closure. She argues via social media that the agency's functions—such as grant distributions and answering queries—could be better managed by other entities.
Federal Funding Access
While local and state funding primarily fuels American schools, the Education Department plays a critical role in the disbursement of billions in federal aid directed toward educational programs. Education officials maintain that these funds will continue to be allocated as designated by Congress, primarily through other federal agencies. For instance, the Department of Labor will now manage the funds essential for schools serving low-income students and oversee adult education programs.
Moreover, the Department of Health and Human Services will manage grant programs for college-attending parents, and the State Department will handle funding aimed at foreign language learning initiatives.
Federal Student Loan Management
One of the Education Department’s critical tasks includes the oversight of the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. Although the management of student aid is projected to remain consistent, both McMahon and Trump have indicated that this function could transition to a different federal department in the future. Regardless, Pell Grants and federal loans will continue to be forwarded as needed.
Students will still submit their Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) applications through the same portal, and the necessary support for processing these requests will persist.
Support for Students with Disabilities
The department will maintain its financial responsibilities toward supporting educational initiatives for students with disabilities for the time being. However, there are propositions for these responsibilities to shift to the Department of Health and Human Services as well. That being said, investigations into potential violations of disability rights are still under the Education Department’s purview for now, although these functions may ultimately be reassigned to the Department of Justice.
In light of the recent mass layoffs, the Office for Civil Rights has been operating on an understandably reduced scale, contributing to a backlog of complaints from students citing issues of discrimination. The department’s capability to resolve these cases has diminished, evidenced by a noted decline in outcome rates.
This monumental shift raises pressing questions regarding the future effectiveness of educational support for all students, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds who depend heavily on federal assistance.
