Trump’s Order to Dismantle Education Dept. Aims to Shift Responsibility

What Happened?

The Trump administration has pushed forward with efforts to shutter the U.S. Department of Education.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that instructed the allocation of any federal department of education funds is subject to 'rigorous compliance' and 'administration policy.'

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is tasked with ensuring all necessary steps of the department's closure and to do so 'to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.'

In a statement, McMahon said education is being sent back to the states where it so rightly belongs.

'Education is fundamentally a state responsibility,' McMahon added. 'Instead of filtering resources through layers of federal red tape, we will empower states to take charge and advocate for and implement what is best for students, families, and educators in their communities.'

The Department of Education recently announced it was shrinking its workforce by nearly 50%, with cuts to all divisions.

This includes the closure of seven of the office’s 12 regional offices.

Those impacted will be placed on administrative leave beginning Friday, March 21, according to the agency's 'Reduction in Force' (RIF) notice.

The department said it will continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under its purview.

Politicians and teachers’ unions joined to denounce Trump’s executive action.

President Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) issued a statement simply saying: 'See you in court.'

Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said, 'We will join our national union and public education allies to protect students and educators. We are working with our partners to file lawsuits to stop this executive overreach.'

Trump’s order cannot eliminate the entire department, which was established by Congress in 1972.

It can only be eliminated by the same body, according to reports.

Why it Matters

Data experts that are responsible for the department's formula funding will soon reportedly be part of job cut reductions.

It's a growing concern about how things would remain intact such as Pell grants, student loans, and other funding measures for students with disabilities.

The Department of Education reportedly provides tens of billions of dollars in funding to support millions of these students from low-income and rural backgrounds.

More than $18 billion is disbursed from the agency annually as additional funding for local school districts and schools with high poverty rates.

The dismantling of the department concerns those like Weade James at the left-leaning Center for American Progress about the best use of federal funding if controlled by states and districts.

'It’s very important that we continue to question how these cuts are going to impact students because indeed they are,' James told CNN. 'There’s going to be a loss of expertise and a loss of data collection, oversight and accountability.'

How it Affects You

It’s unclear how these moves will impact current student loan borrowers.

The Trump administration aims to reportedly find an alternative agency to manage its massive student debt portfolio of $1.8 trillion.

An estimated 40% of those loans are reportedly past due.

What happens to the remainder of the Department of Education is still uncertain.

The ability to process various claims effectively may be significantly impacted.