Trump is weighing big cuts to the U.S. Education Department

Updated February 4, 20255:02 PM ET

Heard on NPR Morning Edition

Cory Turner

In early February 2025, the Trump administration announced plans to significantly reduce the U.S. Department of Education's size and scope, potentially leading to its closure. The proposed strategy includes executive actions to eliminate department programs not protected by law and a call for Congress to dismantle the department entirely. The administration aims to issue these executive actions by the end of the month.

The Department of Education, established in 1979, employs approximately 4,400 individuals and manages an annual budget of $79 billion. Its primary responsibilities encompass overseeing federal student loans totaling around $1.6 trillion, enforcing special education laws, and administering Title I funds to support low-income students.

While the administration can propose significant cuts and reorganization through executive action, completely dissolving the department requires congressional approval. Historically, attempts to eliminate the department have faced substantial challenges in Congress. Many of its key programs, such as Title I funding for low-income schools and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), are established by federal law and enjoy broad bipartisan support. Therefore, any major changes to these programs would necessitate legislative action.

In the interim, the administration has placed numerous Education Department staff members on paid administrative leave, citing a recent executive order targeting federal diversity programs. This move has caused concern among employees and is expected to be a focal point during the Senate confirmation hearings for Trump's nominee for education secretary, Linda McMahon.

The proposed dismantling of the Department of Education aligns with broader conservative objectives to reduce federal involvement in education, advocating for increased state and local control. However, such a significant shift raises concerns about the future of federal funding streams and programs designed to support disadvantaged students and uphold educational equity.

As the situation develops, educators and stakeholders should monitor these proposals closely, considering the potential implications for federal education programs and the overall landscape of U.S. education policy.

Original Article

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com