In brief
President Donald Trump is eyeing an executive order to shut down the US Department of Education, a dream for many conservatives. Trump aims to eliminate certain programs and transfer others to different government branches. However, completely abolishing the department requires Congressional approval, making this challenge a steep one for the president.
The Department of Education, established in 1979, is responsible for public school funding, student loans, and supporting low-income students. Trump and his supporters criticize it for supposedly promoting "woke" ideologies among youth. Though the Education Department allocates a modest $238 billion from the federal budget and employs around 4,400 people, most school funding is sourced from states and locals. While Trump can seek to cut programs or change operations through executive action, only Congress can fully disband the agency, requiring bipartisan support that may be hard to secure. Reactions from various political corners highlight the ongoing debate about education's role in America!
