Trump Administration Advances Education Department Dismantling, Transfers Key Programs to Other Agencies
The Trump administration is systematically dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, transferring grant programs and educational responsibilities to HHS, State, Interior, and Labor Departments, prioritizing states' roles.
The Education Department is dismantling. Here's what that means
Associated Press
Trump Admin Announces Major Changes To Ed Dept
Daily Caller
Photos show the evolution of the US Department of Education
Business Insider
Overview
- The Trump administration is actively dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, initiating transfers of various functions to other federal agencies through executive orders and interagency agreements.
- Health and Human Services will assume responsibility for grant programs related to college attendance and child care, as part of the Education Department's ongoing restructuring and duty hand-offs.
- The State Department is set to fund and run foreign language and international education programs, taking over these responsibilities from the Education Department's dismantling efforts.
- The Department of the Interior will now manage Native American education programs, while the Department of Labor is slated for increased oversight of federal K-12 and college funding.
- These transfers serve as a "proof of concept" to Congress, fulfilling the Trump Administration's promise to prioritize American students and return education responsibilities to the states.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources collectively frame the story around the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the Education Department. They emphasize the controversial nature of these moves, highlighting the administration's intent to "sidestep Congress" and the potential negative impacts on students and staff, while also presenting the administration's rationale of efficiency and reduced bureaucracy.
"Programs that support low-income students, students with special needs and civil rights will remain in place, even if they're moved to different agencies."
CBS News"The necessity of the department is up for debate, and it’s also unclear how well-equipped other state and federal departments are to take over the Education Department’s responsibilities."
Associated Press"The current administration's push to reduce the federal government's role in education through federal defunding and undoing protections echoes arguments of the past, from the early republic's approaches to schooling to the Cold War concerns over intellectual superiority."
Business Insider"It’s a lot easier to destroy something than it is to build it back up."
Gizmodo"The Trump administration unveiled a sweeping plan Tuesday to sidestep Congress and outsource large pieces of the U.S. Department of Education, telling lawmakers and staff that it would shift work dedicated to, among other things, elementary and secondary education, postsecondary education and Indian education to other federal agencies."
NPR"The action leaves in place the Education Department’s $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio and its funding for students with disabilities, though McMahon has suggested both would be better managed by other federal departments."
Associated Press"The move represents one of the most significant actions to fully eliminate the Education Department, following President Donald Trump's executive order in March to do so."
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FAQ
Grant programs related to college attendance and child care are being transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services; foreign language and international education programs are moving to the State Department; Native American education programs to the Department of the Interior; and K-12 and college funding oversight is shifting to the Department of Labor.
The administration aims to shrink what it sees as a bloated federal education bureaucracy, return education responsibilities to state and local levels, and prioritize states' authority over education funding and programs, using transfers as a 'proof of concept' to demonstrate this approach to Congress.
Education advocacy groups and some lawmakers argue that dismantling efforts lack evidence, risk harming students especially those from low-income or vulnerable groups, may disrupt critical programs, and could allow states to divert funding away from intended recipients.
While the administration is making significant transfers and reductions, completely shutting down the Department of Education would require congressional approval; some lawmakers have criticized the administration for circumventing legal processes and subverting the law through these dismantling efforts.
The Department has experienced significant reductions, with staff cut by nearly 50 percent through two reductions in force, impacting multiple offices including statistical agencies; some layoffs were temporarily enjoined by federal courts during a government shutdown.
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