President-elect Donald Trump has proposed dissolving the Federal Department of Education, a long-standing initiative by libertarian-leaning conservatives who want to bring education back to the states. This has many possible consequences for schools around the nation that receive federal funds from the Department of Education, a key issue argued by both sides. However, abolishing the Department of Education will require overwhelming support from Congress and will likely prove to be a difficult feat for conservative lawmakers.
The United States Department of Education was founded in 1979. Federal funding for education increased in the 1970s as a response to social changes, especially for programs that support minority groups. At the same time, the department faced criticism from conservative leaders. Ronald Reagan rallied for the end of the Department of Education during the beginning of his administration, believing that it was unnecessary to administer national education programs. However, Reagan backed down from the initiative as a result of little support from Congress. Eradicating the Department of Education has since become a top priority of Project 2025, an initiative by the conservative Heritage Foundation.
Trump has named Linda McMahon, a former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) executive as his pick for Secretary of Education. McMahon was also the former administrator of the Small Business Association in the cabinet during his first administration. Despite being criticized for not having an extensive background in education, McMahon will be leading Trump’s efforts to reduce federal involvement in education. McMahon is a staunch supporter of parental authority and school choice, echoing Trump’s statement on his website to “once again fundamental right of parents to control the education, healthcare, and moral formation of their children.” Conservatives have long used this in combination with the wider argument against left-leaning ideology in the education system, especially concerning gender and race. In response, some proponents of abolishing the Department of Education would like federal educational programs to be moved to different departments, such as the Department of Treasury. Critics also aim to solve administrative issues from the Department of Education. Federal funding tends to favor districts instead of schools. For example, according to the FUSD, “[Special Education] Revenues are allocated based on the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) of each district and the actual enrollment count of special needs students.”
Despite these issues, defenders of the Department of Education fear reductions in funding and programs for K-12 schools across the nation, particularly for disadvantaged student areas. An example is Title I, a federal program that provides support to students who have not met the standard for academic achievement. In the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD), Title I supplements funds for schools such as Kennedy High School, Robertson/Vista Alternative High School, and Walters Middle School. Federal funding, while only making up a small percentage of FUSD’s total funding, is especially important amidst the district’s budget crisis. Many are also concerned that abolishing the Department of Education will exacerbate the national teacher shortage as a result of lower wages and benefits.
Trump and other conservatives have been outspoken about eliminating the Federal Department of Education, believing that it has been ineffective in administering funding and an overreach of the government. It is unclear whether Trump will be able to gather enough support from Congress to eliminate the department as a whole, but many are expecting reductions in federal funding. Amidst these speculations, parents, educators, and students are worried about how these changes will impact schools on an individual level.
