On March 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The order seeks to shift educational authority back to state and local governments.
Under the directive, Secretary McMahon must develop a comprehensive plan for the department’s closure. However, since the agency was created through legislative action, its full dissolution requires congressional approval.
Established in 1979, the Department of Education oversees several key programs, including the $18.4 billion Title I initiative for high-poverty K-12 schools and the $15.5 billion Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) program, which supports students with disabilities. Additionally, it manages federal student loans totaling approximately $1.6 trillion.
In the meantime, essential services—such as administering federal student loans, Pell Grants, and Title I funding—will continue. The executive order mandates that these responsibilities be reassigned to other federal agencies to ensure uninterrupted support for students and educational institutions.
The reallocation of federal education funds involves transferring oversight to other departments. For instance, the Department of the Treasury may take charge of financial aid programs, while the Department of Health and Human Services could manage early childhood education initiatives. This restructuring is designed to maintain the distribution of federal resources without a centralized education agency.
Supporters of the move argue that it will reduce federal bureaucracy and restore control over education to local entities better suited to address community needs. However, critics warn that dissolving the department could disrupt funding, particularly for vulnerable student populations, and create logistical challenges in administering critical programs.
As the transition unfolds, the administration must navigate logistical hurdles in reassigning functions, legal challenges, and securing congressional approval for the department’s closure.
