Image by: Mark Schiefelbein / AP
President Donald Trump stated that he wants to close the Department of Education and is actively signing an executive order to do so. He quotes, “Let the states run their own education,” believing that the current system is failing students and parents. Trump is referring to ideologies like gender and race, which he argues are being pushed onto children by the Education Department. As a result, Trump has cut off federal funding for schools that do not fit with his goals of closing the Department of Education. But, he can not make that decision without Congress, needing 60 votes in the Senate. As of now, they have cut about $1 billion that is used to support research in education.
The Department of Education is not in control of what schools teach kids or how they teach, it’s local school districts and states that have over control of that. More than 70% of its budget goes towards federal student aid that especially helps students pay for college. These aids include funding to support low-income or disabled children and college students who can not afford the full price of their tuition. This puts students who rely on federal funding at risk of losing its benefits as the Trump administration’s reduces the amount of money the DOE receives.
Regarding student loans, Trump’s executive order states that loans and grants will continue to be provided. The order affirms that “the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely” will be maintained. Trump noted that these services are “going to be preserved in full and redistributed to various other agencies and departments that will take very good care of them.” Yet, dismantling the Department of Education will get rid of FAFSA, a form used to apply for federal financial aid to help students pay for college, making education only accessible to the wealthy.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said in a news release, “I agree with President Trump that the Department of Education has failed its mission.” Many members of Congress are in support of Trump’s decision but, many citizens are against it. They have protested outside the U.S. Department of Education. They are upset about the removal of over 1,300 employees and President Trump’s plan to dismantle the agency.