It was 1979 when the administration of former US President Jimmy Carter managed a narrow 210-to-206 home victory to create a ministry of the level of government. Forty -six years later, another American president, Donald Trump, is close to fulfilling a long -term conservative ambition: the full dismantling of the department.
On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order in which educational secretary Linda McMahon was instructed to start the process of closing the public authority. The order instructs Mrs. McMahon to “take all the necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Ministry of Education and to return the authority on education to the states and local communities”, to the legally permitted extent.
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The relocation, a large stir in the American education system, has been a republican discussion point for decades. Although it would require the conclusion of the Congress Promotion department, the Trump government has already started taking steps to weaken its influence. The department's workforce has been cut in two, its research arm, the Institute of Education Sciences, is stripped, while a billionaire Elon Musk-guided Department of Government has set efficiency (Doge) on various contracts considered “awake”.
“Since 1979, the US Department of Education has spent more than $ 3 trillion with virtually nothing to show for it. Despite the fact that expenditure per pupil has risen by more than 245 percent in that period, there is virtually no measurable improvement in students' performance,” said the White House.
The US Education department spreads billions of dollars to federal funds at schools and universities, supervises the protection of civil rights and managing the federal student loan program. Trump's plan raises questions about the future of these functions.
What does Trump want
President Trump and his allies claim that federal supervision – in particular through the Ministry of Education – has failed students, teachers and parents. His case for dismantling the department depends on a well-known conservative argument: that education is best managed at the state and local level.
“The bright future of our country is based on empowered families, committed communities and excellent educational opportunities for every child,” read the Order of Trump.
Trump wants to cut the government financing to schools and universities that promote what he calls 'critical racing theory, transgender insanity and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content'.
“After 45 years, the United States spends more money on education than any other country and it also spends much more money per student than any country and it is not even close, but we are still near the list in terms of success. We are at the bottom of the list and we have long been reading the fourth reading skills than when the department was opened by a lot,” said.
Trump's claim “Bottom of the list” was checked by Nat Malkus, Senior Fellow and the Deputy Director of Education Policy at the Conservative Leaning American Enterprise Institute.
“It doesn't matter how you cut it, the US does not score at the bottom of the international rankings. The US ranks in the middle of the peloton on most international assessments,” Mr Malkus told AFP news agency.
According to Trump's order, American taxpayers spent almost $ 200 billion on federal funds at schools during the pandemic, in addition to the $ 60 billion that has already been assigned annually for federal school financing.
“In Baltimore, 40 percent of high schools have zero students who can do basic mathematics – not even the simplest mathematics. They are talking about it when adding a few songs together,” Trump said.
Democratic declaration: “See you in court”
The executive order of Trump has caused an immediate and powerful response from Democrats.
“We have to concentrate on helping our children with mathematics and reading the basic principles they need to succeed. Absolutely no one asks for three out-of-touch billionaires to tear the Ministry of Education about a disturbed extreme right-wing cultural war,” said Democratic Senator Patty Murray.
“When taking a scrap ball to the department, Trump makes it more difficult for students to get financial help, whereby financing schools and families count on every day and make it easier for predatory companies to rip students,” she added.
“We know that you are just trying to wear us out. But for the record, I am not overwhelmed. My zone is not flooded. I will fight against your illegal behavior until the cows come home, and I am pretty sure that the hundreds of thousands of people contacted my office since you started this nonsense,” said Democratic Senator Tina Smith.
“You see in court,” said the American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.
Although Mrs. McMahon will be given the task of dismantling the agency, some programs have been imposed on congress and cannot be abolished without legislative action.
What does the department do
Much of the financing of the Education Department for K -12 education – Kindergarten up to and including class 12 – flows through Title I, which supports schools with a low income, and the individuals with disabilities (idea). These programs help to pay for special education services, additional educational positions and school advisers.
One of the most important responsibilities of the department is to manage $ 1.5 trillion in student loans for more than 40 million borrowers. It also manages the Pell Grant program and the free request for Federal Student AID (FAFSA).
Under former President Joe Biden, the educational department of student debts made a cornerstone of her agenda. Despite the fact that a ruling from the Supreme Court has brought down his cancellation plan of his loan, the Biden administration has forgiven more than $ 175 billion in student debt for 4.8 million borrowers through targeted programs. Trump has greatly criticized the student debt reduction of Biden and called it 'illegally' and 'unfair'.
The Office for Civil Rights of the Education Department maintains anti-discrimination laws in schools, research into matters with regard to race, sex and disabled rights. Under Biden, the office has expanded the protection for LGBTQ+ students, issued guidelines on racial differences in discipline and collected data on educational inequalities.
Trump's government has already shifted priorities. The US president has promised to exclude transgender students from title IX protection, a crucial law against sex-based discrimination in educational institutions.
Can Trump close the department?
No. At least not alone.
The US president would need approval of the congress with a majority of the Senate of at least 60 out of 100 senators. That seems unlikely at the moment because the Republicans only have a majority of 53-47 in the Senate.
