In brief
The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the Education Department, reallocating its responsibilities to other federal agencies like Labor and Health and Human Services. While officials guarantee that funding for schools will continue, there are concerns about how effectively these essential services will be managed without a dedicated department. Key roles, including oversight of federal student loans and protections for students with disabilities, remain under examination as officials grapple with the potential impacts on education equality and resources.
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a controversial move, President Donald Trump is breaking apart the Education Department and distributing its principal functions to various federal agencies. This shift is part of his campaign promise to close the department entirely.
Key offices that support schools and colleges will transfer responsibilities to agencies such as the Department of Labor and the Department of Interior. Officials assure that funding from Congress to schools will not be affected, leaving questions about current staff roles unanswered.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon is advocating for the dismantling on social media, suggesting that functions like grantmaking could be better managed by individual states or other agencies.
The Education Department currently oversees billions of dollars designated for education and has vital roles in managing federal student loans, which amount to $1.6 trillion. Despite the changes, officials promise that Pell Grants and federal loans will still be disbursed as usual, keeping student financial aid processes intact for now.
Concerns are also prevalent about how these shifts will impact students with disabilities and the monitoring of civil rights within education, as the department’s oversight capacity has already been markedly reduced due to previous layoffs.
Furthermore, experts are questioning whether other federal and state departments can adequately support the complexities of federal education laws and funding processes. The next steps will be critical in ensuring that vulnerable populations, including low-income students and those with disabilities, receive the support they need during this transition.
