Department of Education Faces Major Changes Under Trump Administration
Department of Education staff are bracing for significant upheaval as “reduction in force” notices are set to be issued, potentially affecting nearly half of the department’s employees. In a dramatic move, all department offices will close from Tuesday evening through Wednesday due to security concerns. Staff have been instructed to vacate the premises by 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump has been vocal about his desire to shift education control from federal to state level. In August 2024, Trump stated emphatically:
"I want to close up the Department of Education, move education back to the states."
He believes most states could thrive under this system, while acknowledging potential challenges for some left-leaning states.
Reports suggest an executive order to abolish the agency may be imminent. A draft order, obtained by the Wall Street Journal, instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to facilitate the department’s closure to the fullest extent legally possible. The draft describes the federal role in education as a “failed experiment.”
On her first day, Secretary McMahon sent a letter to department staff outlining her mission to:
- Dismantle bureaucratic “bloat”
- Transfer educational responsibilities to the states
- Align with the president’s mandate and campaign rhetoric
This move represents a seismic shift in federal education policy, with far-reaching implications for students, educators, and states across the nation.
Trump’s Vision: Decentralizing Education
Trump’s plan to decentralize the Department of Education aligns with an originalist perspective of the Constitution, advocating for the transfer of power and responsibility back to the states. This approach argues that states are better equipped to manage education according to their unique demographics and needs.
The executive order draft reviewed by The Wall Street Journal echoes this sentiment, portraying federal oversight of education as ineffective and sidelining local authority. This move taps into a conservative desire to realign education with what many see as the original intent of the Constitution—to empower individual states.
Key Points of Trump’s Education Plan:
- Transfer educational control to states
- Dismantle federal education bureaucracy
- Enhance educational freedom outside federal oversight
- Address perceived “wokeness” in education
Education Secretary Linda McMahon plays a pivotal role in this transformation, guiding the department through a significant shift in its mission. Tasked with facilitating the department’s closure, McMahon aims to ensure a smooth and responsible transfer of duties back to the state and local levels.
Critics raise concerns about the abruptness of such a move, pointing to the importance of safeguarding federal protections that have historically supported vulnerable student populations. However, the administration insists that this approach will allow states to innovate and optimize their educational frameworks.
This bold move comes at a time when public trust in federal institutions, particularly in education, is waning. By positioning himself as a reformer returning control to the states, Trump seeks to address these concerns and reshape the American educational landscape.
Implications and Challenges of Decentralizing Education
The potential closure of the Department of Education and decentralization of educational authority carries profound implications for both red and blue states. Trump asserts that a majority of states could excel under state-controlled education, allowing them to implement policies aligned with their political philosophies without federal oversight.
Potential Outcomes for Different States:
| Conservative-led States | Liberal-led States |
|---|---|
| Increased school vouchers | Resource strains due to reduced federal funding |
| Charter school expansion | Challenges in supporting disadvantaged students |
| Curricula focused on traditional values | Potential conflicts with federal educational standards |
The implementation of this plan faces significant legal and procedural hurdles in Congress. Shifting the entire education framework back to state control involves constitutional discussions on the limits of federal power versus states’ rights. While Project 2025 provides a blueprint for this transformation, realizing it requires congressional approval, which may be difficult to obtain given the bipartisan nature of the issue.
Key Challenges:
- Ensuring equitable education opportunities across all states
- Maintaining educational standards without federal oversight
- Addressing potential funding disparities between states
- Balancing state autonomy with constitutional requirements
This decentralization plan represents both a philosophical and structural shift in American education. It promises to reshape the educational landscape by dismantling what Trump sees as a cumbersome federal bureaucracy, offering states the autonomy to innovate independently.
As the nation considers this educational overhaul, its success will depend on the states’ ability to balance autonomy and responsibility while adhering to the core principles laid out by the founding fathers in our constitutional republic. The coming months and years will reveal how states adapt to this potential new reality in education, what innovations might emerge from increased state control, and what challenges could arise in maintaining educational standards across the country.
- Trump D. Campaign statement on closing the Department of Education. September 13, 2023.
- Heritage Foundation. Project 2025: Blueprint for the Trump administration. 2024.
- Associated Press. Trump describes plans for Linda McMahon as education secretary. February 4, 2025.
- Trump D. Executive order on gender ideology extremism and DEI policies. January 20, 2025.
- Trump D. Executive order on expanding educational freedom and opportunity for families. January 29, 2025.
- Rounds M. Bill to close the Department of Education. November 2024.