President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Wednesday aimed at reshaping school funding and expanding school choice, fulfilling promises made during his campaign. The orders target what the White House describes as "radical indoctrination" in public schools while prioritizing parental rights and alternative education options. Additionally, Trump signed an executive order focused on combating antisemitism on college campuses.
Since taking office, Trump has enacted a series of executive actions aimed at restructuring the federal government in alignment with his "America First" agenda. A particular focus has been eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which his administration views as divisive.
Expanding School Choice
Trump’s executive order on school choice marks a significant victory for conservative activists who have long advocated for directing taxpayer funds toward private education. The order mandates several federal agencies to facilitate funding for private and faith-based schools:
- The Department of Education must issue guidance on utilizing federal funds to support scholarship programs for grade school students.
- The Department of Defense is tasked with devising a plan to enable military families to use defense funds for their preferred schools.
- The Department of the Interior must present a strategy allowing families with children in Bureau of Indian Education schools to access federal funding for alternative schools.
- The Department of Health and Human Services will provide guidance on how states can allocate HHS funds to support private and religious education.
Several Republican-led states have already implemented universal or near-universal school choice programs, including voucher systems that direct public dollars to private institutions. The Trump administration’s move to extend this approach at the federal level could further accelerate the movement.
However, public school advocates and teachers' unions argue that diverting taxpayer funds from public schools to private institutions will harm underfunded schools, particularly in low-income areas. Critics contend that school choice policies contribute to educational inequality and could lead to the eventual decline of public education.
CNN has reported that some of Trump’s education policies—such as eliminating the Department of Education and reducing federal funding for public schools—could disproportionately impact states that supported him. A 2022 CNN analysis revealed that the 15 states most reliant on federal education funding all voted for Trump, while most states receiving the least federal aid backed Vice President Kamala Harris.
Despite these concerns, some teachers' union representatives have expressed skepticism about the order’s overall impact, citing the mixed reception of school choice policies among voters.
Protecting Parental Rights and Ending Discriminatory Practices
A second education-related executive order aims to uphold parental rights and address what the administration deems discriminatory practices in public education. The order directs federal agencies to ensure compliance with laws prohibiting discrimination in K-12 education and to eliminate funding for programs promoting "gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology."
Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses
Trump also signed an executive order directing federal agencies to crack down on antisemitism in higher education. The order includes provisions to revoke student visas for individuals deemed "Hamas sympathizers" and mandates a government report within 60 days to identify legal actions available to combat antisemitism on campuses.
The initiative follows increased scrutiny of pro-Palestinian student protests that erupted after Israel’s military response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack. Trump's executive order mandates a review of all pending civil rights complaints related to campus antisemitism since that date.
The 2024 Republican National Convention platform pledged to "deport pro-Hamas radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again," raising concerns among international students about potential policy changes.
With these executive orders, Trump continues to reshape federal education policy, prioritizing school choice, parental rights, and a firm stance against antisemitism. As debates over these policies unfold, their long-term effects on public education and higher learning institutions remain to be seen.
