The Department of Education Under Trump
Hagan Burnett
Any pronouns
Staff Writer
2/20/25
Donald Trump is reportedly preparing an executive order to effectively end the Department of Education. Trump does not have the authority to simply abolish it; instead it must be done through an act of congress. Abolishing the department would take a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the Senate, meaning all Republicans would have to vote in favor, along with seven Democrats. This is extremely unlikely given how unpopular the move to abolish the Department is with Democrats. However, if he were to abolish the Department, it would have significant impacts on the country’s students and families.
The Department of Education operates on a $228 billion budget, about half of which funds Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans. In addition, Title I grants make up 16.5% of the budget. This means that only a quarter of the budget is non financial aid related. If the Department were to be abolished, states would have to figure out how to fund their education, whether it be through widespread privatization, a reforming of a tax structure, or some other means.
States that receive the most federal funding tend to be states that have struggling education systems. If federal funding for education ends, then critical programs such as special education and school lunch subsidies will be in serious question. If states have to cut spending, those programs may be among some of the first to go. Supporters of the move to abolish the Department of Education often say that returning funding to the states will allow them to more freely make financial decisions relevant to their own state. They also state that regulations from the federal government restrict educational opportunities in states and discourage participation in the military and vocational schools.
If the department is abolished, the future of Pell Grants, Student Loans and Title I grants will be in question. Project 2025 has suggested that all grants and loans should be returned to the private sector. It also says that grants should instead focus on apprenticeships and vocational schools to “bolster the workforce skills of Americans who have no interest in pursuing a four-year academic degree.” Depending on what route Trump’s administration decides to take, recipients of federal aid in undergraduate programs may lose their aid and have to get loans from a private business. These loans often have higher interest rates. It has also been suggested that this move will significantly lower the amount of scholarships in rotation. First-time, low-income, and minority college students are overwhelmingly the recipients of federal financial aid. Without federal aid, college enrollment rates overall may drop drastically beyond already falling enrollment numbers.
Though it is unlikely Trump will gain enough support from Congress to abolish the department, it is clear he and his administration will do everything possible to minimize government oversight and education financing. The Department of Government Efficiency, under Elon Musk, has also announced up to a billion dollars in budget cuts. While this is a small amount compared to the large budget, it could be the first of many budget cuts that his department proposes. The future of education in the United States is uncertain, and many may lose their federal aid if the department is abolished, or if budget cuts are strong enough. It is to be seen if Trump gathers enough support from Congress, or if he pushes change via execute order.