Overview:
The Trump Administration has proposed a plan to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE), a federal government agency founded in 1979, by issuing executive orders and seeking congressional approval. This plan would involve moving certain programs to other federal agencies, such as the Treasury Department, and could lead to an increase in student loan debt, higher interest rates, and a higher reliance on for-profit colleges. While Congress can block the plan, Trump still has the power to implement small detrimental changes. If the DOE is dismantled, funding for public schools and universities would be affected, and students seeking higher education may face increased financial burdens.
Just a week ago, the Trump Administration sent America into a frenzy when it announced a federal freeze. And if that wasn’t enough chaos, the Trump Administration is seeking to make good on Trump’s campaign promise of completely eliminating the Department of Education (DOE), a federal government agency founded in 1979 and opened in 1980 under the presidency of the late Jimmy Carter.
So, what happens next?
Executive Orders & Congressional Approval:
According to CNN, this plan to dismantle the DOE would be a two-part plan. “The order would direct the Secretary of Education to create a law to diminish the department through the executive action.” This law would have to get approved by Congress, though. So while the Administration is not allowed to outwardly write an executive order to dismantle the DOE outright, they still hold the power to write executive orders that can be aimed at dismantling parts of the DOE.
For instance, Trump’s DEI ban on all levels of the federal government has forced hundreds of workers who work in the DOE to be placed on paid administrative leave. With people not being able to work, it puts the DOE at risk of different issues internally just as externally.
Another example is the federal freeze. While it was rescinded, it did have a massive effect on people who rely on governmental funding to help them with school, after-school programs, daycare for low-income families, etc.
So, despite this being something that Congress would have to approve, the current administration still has the power to implement small detrimental changes to eventually cause the steady decline of the Department of Education.
What Does the DOE Encompass:
To simply put it the Department of Education is responsible for establishing policy and federal rules for education in America. Along with that they also provide the funding for public schools and universities across the country, and the funding process for students seeking higher education. They provide the oversight to help stop student discrimination through the Civil Rights Act to help protect minority students.
What Could Happen if the DOE is Dismantled:
If DOE is dismantled, certain programs would have to be moved to different federal agencies. For example, the Title I Program provides education for students who are in low-income families. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Program offers education to students with disabilities, and this is extremely important because 95% of the students who have disabilities in America are afforded an education through public schools. Both programs would be forced to move to another department (Treasury Department).
However, the biggest impact of dismantling the DOE would be the mountain of issues it would create for those seeking higher education, or who are already in college. A lot of American students require the help and assistance of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to fund their education. Funding such as Pell Grants, loans, and scholarships are the primary source for low-income students and others who can not pay for college costs out of pocket.
If the DOE is dismantled, this sadly does not get rid of student loan debt. The student loan debt would be given to private lenders, and this would create higher interest rates on student loans, there would not be repayment plans based on income, and there would not be student loan forgiveness based on an occupational career. If that wasn’t enough the loans would most likely be given to the Treasury Department.
There could also be an increase in the amount of For-Profit colleges that are seen in America. This has the potential to cause students to have more loan debt for a low-quality higher education. The DOE is responsible for regulating the for-profit colleges to ensure that they are preparing students to be placed into the workforce, and are not left with unaffordable debt. The DOE holds for-profit colleges accountable since for-profit colleges are typically privately owned and operated.
What Now:
As of now the entire future of the DOE is at a standstill, and while Congress has the power to block the Trump Administration’s banning of the DOE, Trump still has the power to get rid of it. Especially since Elon Musk is the head of the Department of Government Efficiency and his primary goal is to dispose of the DOE to the highest level. And if he’s not successful, there was a bill introduced that would completely get rid of DOE by 2026.
Finally, it is also worth noting that the Project 2025 playbook wrote this about the Department of Education, “Federal Education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.”
Zahiyah Carter is a Gen Z writer based in Dallas. Her work focuses on topics that matter most to young people, from social issues and pop culture to technology and beyond.
