The Trump administration has initiated the systematic dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, marking the first concrete steps toward fulfilling President Donald Trump's campaign promise to eliminate the department entirely. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has launched a public campaign advocating for the department's closure, arguing that its functions could be better managed by state governments and other federal agencies.
Major Office Transfers Underway
The restructuring involves transferring several core Education Department offices to various federal agencies. The Department of Labor will assume control over some of the largest federal funding streams, including Title I money designated for schools serving low-income communities. This follows the earlier transfer of adult education programs to Labor in June.
Other significant reassignments include the Department of Health and Human Services taking over grant programs for parents attending college, while the State Department will manage foreign language program funding. The Department of Interior will oversee programs supporting Native American education.
Impact on Education Funding and Programs
Education officials emphasize that Congress-allocated funding to states, schools, and colleges will continue uninterrupted, though the money will now flow through different federal agencies. The department currently channels billions of dollars to educational institutions and plays a crucial role in interpreting complex federal education laws.
The massive $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio remains under Education Department management for now, though McMahon and Trump have suggested it might be transferred elsewhere. Pell Grants and federal loans continue to be disbursed normally, and student loan borrowers must maintain their payment schedules. The critical FAFSA application system remains operational, with the department continuing to provide support for applicants navigating the complex form.
Civil Rights and Disability Services Changes
The department's civil rights operations have already been significantly impacted by mass layoffs that halved staff in March, following a Supreme Court decision upholding the cuts. The Office for Civil Rights now operates with reduced capacity, raising concerns about its ability to address growing backlogs of discrimination complaints based on race, sex, or disability status.
While disability education funding currently remains with the Education Department, McMahon has proposed transferring these responsibilities to Health and Human Services. Civil rights investigations, including those involving disability rights violations, may eventually move to the Department of Justice.
The administration faces the challenge of ensuring that vulnerable student populations—including rural and low-income children and students with disabilities who rely heavily on federal education support—are not adversely affected by these structural changes.
