President Donald Trump aims to close the Education Department by putting newly confirmed Education Chief Linda McMahon out of a job. The administration has already begun restructuring the department by cutting contracts deemed “woke” and wasteful, dismissing employees, and overhauling its operations. Despite the challenges of eliminating the department, Trump’s team is moving forward with plans to shift its responsibilities to other agencies. The Education Department’s key functions include managing federal funds for schools and colleges, overseeing student loans and financial aid programs, and enforcing civil rights in education.

Trump’s approach to education policy involves cutting federal funding for schools promoting certain ideologies, supporting school choice programs, and addressing student loan forgiveness. The administration has clashed with Biden’s efforts to cancel student debt, with Trump criticizing these initiatives as illegal. Additionally, Trump’s administration has shifted the focus of civil rights enforcement in education, prioritizing complaints of antisemitism and taking a different stance on diversity and equity policies. Trump has also expressed plans to exclude transgender students from Title IX protections.

The Education Department’s role in accrediting colleges and universities has faced scrutiny, with Trump advocating for changes in accrediting agencies to align with conservative values. The department’s funding for K-12 schools is channeled through federal programs supporting students with disabilities and low-income schools. Trump has proposed transferring oversight of these programs to states, although specific details on this transition remain unclear. Overall, Trump’s education policies reflect a conservative vision that seeks to reshape federal involvement in education and emphasize state control.