Capitol News

President Donald Trump's administration has significantly reduced staffing at the Department of Education, halving personnel numbers, signaling a move towards potentially dismantling the agency. These actions indicate a push to fulfill Trump's campaign promise to abolish the department, according to education policy expert Josh Cowen from Michigan State University.

Professor Cowen points out, "The agency’s main role is financial. Annually, it distributes billions in federal money to colleges and schools and manages the federal student loan portfolio. Closing the department would mean redistributing each of those duties to another agency." Cowen further suggests that Trump's actions generate "considerable legal and policy uncertainty."

Trump's intentions were confirmed following leaks by The Wall Street Journal, revealing plans to sign an executive order for the department's dismantling. This proposal aligns with drafts obtained by the publication, with Cowen stating, "Although the president has broad executive authority, there are many things he cannot order by himself. And one of those is the dismantling of a Cabinet agency created by law. But he seems determined to hollow the agency out."

The move has resulted in the termination of approximately 1,300 employees, leaving the department with around 2,183 staff members. Cowen highlights, "On the surface, a demand to end the Education Department is nothing new. Trump’s campaign platform included a call to abolish the department."

Concerns arise regarding the legal feasibility of such a dismantling, with Cowen expressing, "Eliminating the department altogether would be a cumbersome task, which likely would require an act of Congress." The drafted executive order proposes Education Secretary Linda McMahon to outline plans for reductions, particularly targeting programs conflicting with Trump's directives on diversity initiatives.

Discussion centers on the potential impact of the department's closure, with Cowen remarking, "Billions of dollars in public educational programs across the country are at stake in the outcome of these decisions." Furthermore, the changes may significantly affect Michigan, where hundreds of millions in funding could be threatened.

The Trump administration's approach suggests a strategy of enacting change through executive authority while potentially seeking congressional approval for a complete dismantling. As Cowen observes, "It’s a different calculus to ask what the House would do under pressure from Trump." With regional offices possibly closing, the support and services provided by the department may become uncertain.

Overall, President Trump's actions mark a pivotal moment for the U.S. Department of Education, posing significant implications for educational funding and administration both at federal and state levels.