Trump moves to reshape American education, eyes state control over schools
Pranjal Chandra | THE TIMES OF INDIA NEWS SERVICE | Feb 04, 2025, 22:56 IST
( Image credit : AP )
President Donald Trump is preparing an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, shifting responsibilities back to individual states. This move is part of a broader effort to reduce federal involvement in K-12 education and expand school choice, sparking debate over potential inequalities in educational quality.
The White House is preparing an executive order that could mark a historic shift in American education policy—one that would dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and transfer its responsibilities back to individual states. This move, championed by President Donald Trump, aligns with his long-standing campaign promise to abolish the federal agency, arguing that education should be a state and local responsibility rather than managed from Washington, D.C.
While Trump cannot eliminate a federal department without congressional approval, sources familiar with the White House’s plans indicate that the executive order would set the stage for a broader legislative effort to shrink the federal government’s involvement in K-12 education.
The move reignites a decades-old debate over the role of federal oversight in public schools. Supporters of the plan argue that education decisions should be made closer to home, allowing states and communities to craft policies that reflect their unique needs. Critics, however, warn that dismantling the Department of Education could lead to drastic disparities in educational quality, particularly in underserved communities that rely on federal funding and oversight to maintain equity in school resources and opportunities.
Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with the current state of the American education system. In a 2023 campaign video, he pledged to take swift action, saying, “One other thing I’ll be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and sending all education and education work and needs back to the states.” He argued that despite the country investing over $1 trillion annually in public education, student outcomes continue to lag behind those of other developed nations.
While the executive order has yet to be formally introduced, Trump has already taken steps to reshape federal education policy. Last week, he signed an order directing the Education Department to expand school choice by providing guidance to states on how they can use federal funds to support charter schools, private school vouchers, and other alternatives to traditional public education. School choice has been a central focus of conservative education reform, with Republican-led states increasingly redirecting public education funds toward private and charter school options.
The push to eliminate the Education Department is not new among conservative policymakers. In recent years, prominent Republican figures have echoed similar proposals. During the 2024 Republican primary, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy made abolishing the department a key campaign promise, while former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley vowed to “clean out” the agency to remove what she called ideological bias in federal education policy.
In a campaign email sent in July 2024, Trump further outlined his education agenda, which includes cutting federal funding to schools that promote “critical race theory,” launching civil rights investigations into schools that discriminate against Asian American students, and implementing a credentialing system for teachers who “embrace patriotic values.” Additionally, he pledged to “find and remove radicals who have infiltrated the federal Department of Education,” a statement that has been widely interpreted as targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the agency.
The potential elimination of the Education Department would represent one of the most radical shifts in American education policy since the department’s establishment in 1979. Advocates of the move believe it would return control to parents and local leaders, who they argue are better equipped to make decisions about curriculum and school funding. Opponents, however, warn that it could exacerbate inequality, leaving millions of students in underfunded districts without the federal protections that ensure equal access to education.
As the White House moves forward with its plan, the proposal is expected to face fierce opposition from congressional Democrats, teachers’ unions, and civil rights organizations. With an election year on the horizon, Trump’s effort to reshape federal education policy is likely to become a defining issue in the national conversation over the future of American schools.
While Trump cannot eliminate a federal department without congressional approval, sources familiar with the White House’s plans indicate that the executive order would set the stage for a broader legislative effort to shrink the federal government’s involvement in K-12 education.
The move reignites a decades-old debate over the role of federal oversight in public schools. Supporters of the plan argue that education decisions should be made closer to home, allowing states and communities to craft policies that reflect their unique needs. Critics, however, warn that dismantling the Department of Education could lead to drastic disparities in educational quality, particularly in underserved communities that rely on federal funding and oversight to maintain equity in school resources and opportunities.
Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with the current state of the American education system. In a 2023 campaign video, he pledged to take swift action, saying, “One other thing I’ll be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and sending all education and education work and needs back to the states.” He argued that despite the country investing over $1 trillion annually in public education, student outcomes continue to lag behind those of other developed nations.
While the executive order has yet to be formally introduced, Trump has already taken steps to reshape federal education policy. Last week, he signed an order directing the Education Department to expand school choice by providing guidance to states on how they can use federal funds to support charter schools, private school vouchers, and other alternatives to traditional public education. School choice has been a central focus of conservative education reform, with Republican-led states increasingly redirecting public education funds toward private and charter school options.
The push to eliminate the Education Department is not new among conservative policymakers. In recent years, prominent Republican figures have echoed similar proposals. During the 2024 Republican primary, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy made abolishing the department a key campaign promise, while former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley vowed to “clean out” the agency to remove what she called ideological bias in federal education policy.
In a campaign email sent in July 2024, Trump further outlined his education agenda, which includes cutting federal funding to schools that promote “critical race theory,” launching civil rights investigations into schools that discriminate against Asian American students, and implementing a credentialing system for teachers who “embrace patriotic values.” Additionally, he pledged to “find and remove radicals who have infiltrated the federal Department of Education,” a statement that has been widely interpreted as targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the agency.
The potential elimination of the Education Department would represent one of the most radical shifts in American education policy since the department’s establishment in 1979. Advocates of the move believe it would return control to parents and local leaders, who they argue are better equipped to make decisions about curriculum and school funding. Opponents, however, warn that it could exacerbate inequality, leaving millions of students in underfunded districts without the federal protections that ensure equal access to education.
As the White House moves forward with its plan, the proposal is expected to face fierce opposition from congressional Democrats, teachers’ unions, and civil rights organizations. With an election year on the horizon, Trump’s effort to reshape federal education policy is likely to become a defining issue in the national conversation over the future of American schools.