Poll Shows Opposition to Closing Education Department
WASHINGTON — A recent poll indicates that most registered voters do not support closing the Department of Education once they learn significant details about its function.
The survey, commissioned by the Yes Every Kid Foundation—a nonprofit advocating for school choice and connected to the Koch Network—initially revealed a split opinion. Without any additional context, 51% of respondents were against the closure, while 38% were in favor.
However, with key details provided regarding the abolition—such as ensuring K-12 funding remains intact and merging vital components of the department with other agencies—opinions shifted. The poll then found that 56% supported closing the department while 30% opposed it.
“President Trump and Secretary McMahon aim to enhance education for our nation’s students, starting with empowering those closest to the children,” stated Maddie Biedermann, assistant secretary for communications at the Department of Education. She added that returning education responsibilities to the states would reduce federal involvement while maintaining essential funding for students with disabilities and low-income schools, along with protecting civil rights.
Support for the closure increased to 59% when more specifics were mentioned—such as how the department would be phased out and protections for students with disabilities implemented.
Insights shared also highlighted a decline in student reading and math performance over the years under the department’s oversight.
Since its inception in 1979, the Department of Education has been a target for President Trump, especially during his second term. However, fully dismantling the department would necessitate a vote in Congress. Currently, Republicans do not have enough votes in the Senate to overcome a 60-vote filibuster, which requires some Democratic support.
Consequently, President Trump, at 79, instructed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to minimize the Department of Education “to the fullest extent allowed by law.”
Since the outset of Trump’s second administration, McMahon, aged 77, has significantly reduced the department’s size—nearly by half—and has begun consolidating key programs in anticipation of a potential closure.
After receiving additional information regarding the proposed closure, 56% of respondents expressed disappointment if Congress were to block it, contrasted with 30% who said they wouldn’t be upset.
The survey’s findings seem to run counter to prior polls that indicated a widespread opposition to shutting down the Education Department, suggesting the public might be more open to the idea if proponents communicated their message more effectively.
Interestingly, a different poll conducted over the summer by PDK International reported that approximately two-thirds of participants were against abolishing the Department of Education.
Last year, the Education Department was noted to have a budget of $268 billion.
In this latest survey, about 44% of respondents supported President Trump for the 2024 election, slightly ahead of the 42% who leaned towards former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The data was compiled from a sample of 1,500 registered voters taken between October 22 and 23, which carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
