Trump's Education Department Overhaul Praised as a Historic Move to Save Education
Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters and Moms for Liberty Co-founder Tiffany Justice applaud President Trump’s decision to dismantle the federal Department of Education, claiming it will return power to states and improve education.
In a bold move that has sparked widespread debate, President Donald Trump has initiated a significant reduction in the size of the federal Department of Education, a decision that Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters describes as historic. Walters praised Trump’s action, suggesting that it could redefine the future of education in America. “President Trump is going to go down in history as the president that saved education and the future of the country,” Walters stated, emphasizing the potential benefits of reducing the federal government’s role in education.
The Trump administration’s plan includes cutting the Department of Education’s workforce from approximately 4,133 to about 2,183 employees. This move aligns with Trump’s long-standing goal to “close up the Department of Education” and shift educational responsibilities back to the states. Critics, including Democratic leaders and educators’ unions, have voiced strong opposition, warning of detrimental impacts on students and educational services nationwide.
However, Walters and Tiffany Justice, co-founder of the parents’ rights group Moms for Liberty, argue that the current system, influenced heavily by federal agencies and teachers’ unions, has been detrimental to student achievement. Walters criticized the Department of Education for being co-opted by unions such as the American Federation of Teachers, which he claims push radical agendas including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. “The disruption of education was the federalization of education and the unionization of education,” Walters said, pointing to declining test scores and societal issues as evidence of the system’s failure.
Justice echoed Walters’ sentiments, reassuring parents that dismantling the Department of Education would not harm their children’s education but rather empower parents and local communities. “Abolishing the Department of Education or dismantling it, cutting back on half the staff, only means more power to the parents,” she stated, challenging the unions’ and media’s narrative of fear.
Despite the backlash, including lawsuits from nearly two dozen Democratic attorneys general, Walters and Justice remain optimistic about the future of education post-reform. They believe that reducing the federal bureaucracy will free up funds to be redirected towards direct educational services, enhancing student learning and teacher support. As the debate continues, the impact of Trump’s educational reforms will be closely watched by all stakeholders in the American education system.