Trump Pushes to Eliminate Department of Education: What Might Result
Washington, Washington:Reiterating a long-standing conservative demand to destroy the U.S. Department of Education, President-elect Donald Trump labels it as a center for "radicals, zealots, and Marxists". For forty million students, the department manages $1.5 trillion in student loans and runs Pell Grant programs—essential for low-income students.
Although it makes up only 14% of public school budgets, federal financing is more important for higher education since financial aid and research funds are very vital there. Trump's proposals call for shifting government money to reward universal school choice and slashing financing to organizations endorsing "critical race theory," or "transgender policies."
Managing services for underprivileged groups like pupils with disabilities, homeless young people, and low-income families, the Education Department also acts in a regulatory capacity. Aiming to erase LGBTQ+ protections under Title IX and punish universities using diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) regulations, Trump's civil rights approach differs greatly. Targeting "radical left accreditors," his campaign also promises to restructure college accreditation by elevating "American tradition" criteria. Critics caution these actions could compromise long-standing equity initiatives in education and result in sidelining of kids in sensitive groups.
Though he has attacked President Joe Biden's loan forgiveness initiatives, which have wiped $175 billion for 4.8 million borrowers, Trump has been opaque on student loan reforms. Conservative ideas, such as the Project 2025 of the Heritage Foundation, propose moving control of education to other federal agencies or states, hence possibly eliminating federal financing completely. Such a change would need Congressional approval and major restructuring, which begs issues about its viability and consequences for millions of people depending on government funding.
