In a declaration, former US President Donald Trump revealed his intention to shut down the US Department of Education at once, labeling it a “huge con job.” Trump’s comments were made in reply to questions from reporters, where he pointed out that the US ranks 40th in education despite being the highest spender globally.
Trump remarked, “We are positioned at No. 40, yet we hold the top spot in one area: cost per student.” Thus, we invested more than any other nation globally. He also emphasized his plan to close the department through an executive order, recognizing that he would require backing from Congress and teachers’ unions to achieve his goal.
This isn’t the initial occasion Trump has suggested closing the Department of Education. In his initial term from 2017 to 2021, he put forth a comparable proposal, yet Congress did not act on it. The Department of Education employs 4,245 individuals and allocated $251 billion in the most recent fiscal year.
Conservative think tanks advocating for the department’s elimination argue that its functions, like administering financial aid programs and overseeing education policies, could be managed by other federal agencies. However, should the Trump administration put this plan into action, it might greatly affect K-12 schools and college student financial aid, resulting in expenses totaling tens of billions of dollars.
Trump’s pick for education secretary, Linda McMahon, was assigned the responsibility of shutting down the agency she was to oversee. The suggestion has raised worries among teachers and legislators, who contend that the Department of Education is essential for guaranteeing equitable access to education and nurturing academic achievement.
As the discussion regarding the future of the Department of Education persists, one fact is evident: Trump’s plan has sparked a passionate debate on the federal government’s role in education and its effects.
