Trump's Plan to Abolish Education Department Faces Congressional Hurdles
President Donald Trump is set to initiate the process of dismantling the Department of Education through an executive order, but full abolition requires Congressional approval.
President Donald Trump’s administration is poised to take initial steps toward dissolving the Department of Education, a move that aligns with his campaign promise to reduce federal control over education. According to a White House fact sheet, Trump aims to ’turn over education to families instead of bureaucracies.’ However, any complete dismantling of the Department would necessitate congressional action, including a supermajority in the Senate, which presents a significant challenge given the current political landscape.
The Department of Education, established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, has long been a target for Republicans seeking to shift educational authority back to state and local levels. Trump’s Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, has been tasked with overseeing the agency’s potential dissolution, a process she acknowledged during her confirmation hearing would require cooperation from Congress.
Despite the hurdles, the administration has already begun to reduce the department’s scope by canceling grants aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools and cutting nearly half of its workforce. These actions reflect the administration’s broader goal to minimize federal bureaucracy and empower states in educational decision-making.
Legal experts and political analysts, such as Andrew Stoltmann and Jamie E. Wright, have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of completely abolishing the department without significant bipartisan support. Stoltmann emphasized the need for 60 Senate votes, a threshold that would likely require Democratic support, which appears unlikely given the department’s role in ensuring national educational standards and funding.
As the administration moves forward with its plan, the Department of Education continues to oversee critical functions such as student loans, financial aid, and nondiscrimination policies, though it does not directly control school curricula or teacher salaries. The ongoing debate over the department’s future underscores the tension between federal oversight and state autonomy in American education policy.