Trump Administration Dismantles Education Department
The Trump administration is pushing forward with plans to dismantle the Department of Education, transferring more authority to the states.
On Tuesday, the Department announced a set of six new agreements with four different government agencies that are aimed at “dismantling the federal education bureaucracy” and “ensuring efficient execution of funded programs.”
These partnerships will include collaborations with the Departments of Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, along with various state governments.
“Our goal is to show Congress that this approach is effective,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. She emphasized that by working with these agencies, the plan is to collect best practices from each state through a nationwide tour, empower local education leaders, and restore quality to higher education. McMahon went on to stress the importance of ensuring federal funds directly support quality education systems.
The Department of Education and the Department of Labor are set to create the Elementary and Secondary Education Partnership, which aims to “empower parents and states” to facilitate improvements in the education system for the benefit of students.
The release indicated that “the Department of Labor will play a more substantial role in overseeing the federal K-12 programs, ensuring they align more closely with workforce initiatives and university programs to benefit students throughout their education journey.”
Additionally, a partnership focusing on higher education and workforce development will allow the Department of Labor to manage a grant program aimed at helping students secure the necessary credentials and training for fruitful careers.
Moreover, the Department of the Interior will collaborate with the Department of Education to establish the Indian Education Partnership, aiming to enhance educational opportunities for Native Americans.
“This partnership will help us strengthen our Indian education programs and streamline our operations to better serve Native youth across the country,” stated Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Health and Human Services is also planning to create a Foreign Medical Accreditation Partnership to evaluate whether foreign medical schools meet U.S. standards.
HHS has further ambitions to enhance on-campus child care programs through the Child Care Access in Schools Parent Partnership, which will cater to parents attending college.
Finally, the State Department is planning to set up an International Education and Foreign Language Research Partnership aimed at improving funding and management of international education programs, also with an eye on national security.
McMahon mentioned to CNN that while these partnerships are still in the formative stages, they will require Congressional approval to become permanent. The immediate goal, however, is to validate that these changes are effective.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, has vowed to take legal action against the administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.
Aaron With, CEO of the Freedom Foundation, responded to the Department’s recent initiatives and union objections by stating, “President Trump is fulfilling his promise to dismantle the federal education bureaucracy. Yet, the main opposition comes from individuals like Randi Weingarten and the teachers’ unions.” He criticized the unions for their prolonged influence and the results that have led to underperformance among American students despite rising educational spending.
“Unions oppose these reforms because they undermine the privileged access they’ve held for too long,” With added. “It’s time for a system that truly serves the needs of parents, students, and communities—not just the union leaders. We commend President Trump and Secretary McMahon for their decisive actions in dismantling this outdated bureaucracy.”
