Department of Education (DOE) on the Chopping Block 🪵🪓

On March 19, 2025, President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Thursday to begin closing the Department of Education, a major step toward fulfilling a key campaign promise. The White House confirmed the plan, which aims to return education control to the states, but it’s already causing heated debates across the country.

Why Does Trump Want to Close It?

Trump has long criticized the Department of Education, calling it a “big con job” that pushes “woke” ideas like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs on students. He argues the department wastes money—claiming it has spent $1 trillion since it was created in 1979 with little improvement in student outcomes. While reading scores have stayed flat for years according to *The Nation’s Report Card*, math scores did improve before the pandemic, a detail often left out of the argument. Trump and his supporters, including many Republicans, believe education should be handled by states and local communities, not the federal government. On X, users like @PatriotMomUSA have cheered the move, saying, “Finally, schools can focus on teaching, not ideology!”

What Does the Department of Education Do?

The Department of Education, established in 1980, has a $238 billion budget and about 4,400 employees. It plays a big role in supporting schools and students:

**Funding for Schools:** It provides money through programs like Title I, which helps schools in low-income areas, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which supports students with special needs. This federal funding makes up about 14% of public school budgets but is crucial for many districts.

**Student Loans and Grants:** The department manages $1.5 trillion in student loans for over 40 million borrowers and gives out Pell Grants to help low-income students afford college.

**Fighting Discrimination:** Its Office for Civil Rights investigates complaints about unfair treatment in schools, ensuring laws like Title IX, which protects against gender discrimination, are followed.

Closing the department wouldn’t stop these programs right away—Congress requires them to exist—but they could be moved to other agencies, which might cause delays or confusion.

How Will This Happen?

Trump’s executive order, set to be signed in the White House East Room with Republican governors like Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida in attendance, directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps” to close the department. McMahon, who was confirmed by the Senate on Monday, has already cut the department’s workforce in half, reducing it from 4,400 to about 2,200 employees. The order also bans any remaining department funds from supporting DEI or “gender ideology” programs, aligning with Trump’s goal to stop what he calls “radical” policies.

However, Trump can’t fully close the department on his own. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress must approve shutting down a federal agency, and that needs 60 votes in the Senate. With only 53 Republican senators, getting enough votes is tough. Some Republicans, like Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, support the idea—he introduced a bill in January to end the department by December 2026. But others in Congress, especially from states that rely on federal education funds, are hesitant. Democrats are strongly against it, with a group of Democratic state attorneys general already filing a lawsuit last week to block the closure and staff cuts.

What Do People Think?

The plan has sparked strong reactions. Education leaders like Becky Pringle of the National Education Association call it “outrageous,” warning that it could hurt students who depend on federal support, like those with disabilities or student loans. Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers says it sends a message that Trump “doesn’t care about opportunity for all kids.” Protesters have gathered outside the Department of Education headquarters in Washington, D.C., with signs reading “Save Our Schools,” as seen on March 14.

On the other hand, some support Trump’s vision. Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, told Fox News the move “saved education” by cutting federal bureaucracy and stopping teachers’ unions from pushing “leftist ideologies.” On X, users like @RealEdFreedom have posted, “States know what’s best for our kids—get the feds out!”

What Could Happen Next?

Even if Congress doesn’t approve a full closure, Trump can still weaken the department by cutting more staff and programs. Education Secretary McMahon has promised that key services, like funding for low-income schools and student loans, will continue, but many worry about disruptions. For example, moving programs like IDEA to another agency could make it harder for students with disabilities to get support. The department’s Office for Civil Rights, which protects students from discrimination, might also struggle with fewer staff.

This fight is far from over. Trump’s order is a big step, but Congress will have the final say. For now, the future of federal education support—and what it means for millions of students—hangs in the balance.