Washington: Jasour – News Desk
The U.S. Department of Education has come under fire from President Donald Trump, who described it as ineffective, wasteful, and dominated by far-left extremists, signaling a potential dismantling of the department.
In an interview broadcast on Sunday, Trump told Fox News that he would instruct Elon Musk, who is leading efforts to cut costs, to turn his attention to the Department of Education next. This statement caused a significant uproar among Democrats, teachers’ unions, and many parents, who described Trump’s plan to close the department as an attack on public education.
Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association, the largest labor union in the country, said that closing the Department of Education would be devastating for students with special needs, low-income students, and other vulnerable children. Pringle stated, “If this becomes a reality, Trump’s power grab would steal resources from our most vulnerable students… and destroy the civil rights protections for students,” adding that the union would oppose the plan.
Traditionally, the federal government has played a limited role in education in the United States, with only about 13% of funding for elementary and secondary schools coming from federal coffers, according to the National Education Association. The remaining funding is provided by state and local communities.
However, federal funding is crucial for low-income schools and students with special needs. The federal government is also essential in enforcing basic civil rights protections for students, such as the historic 1954 Supreme Court ruling that ended segregation in public schools, or the 1990 federal law that ensures access to education for students with special needs.
Mike Petrilli, President of the Thomas Fordham Institute, a conservative research center, stated, “There has been a traditional federal role in trying to make sure the neediest kids are getting what they need. Civil rights enforcement is important.”
Lindsey Burke, Director of Education Policy at the conservative Heritage Foundation, praised Trump’s plan to eliminate the federal department, saying it has failed to improve academic standards, with American students continuing to lag behind their international peers.
Burke commented, “Children in South Carolina are different from children in California, right? I mean, this is the United States, a vast and diverse country.” She added, “Putting these dollars in the hands of far-off federal bureaucrats who don’t know these children’s names or their hopes or dreams or aspirations is not in the best interest of families.”
– A Law from Congress –
But it won’t be easy. Under U.S. law, the Department of Education can only be closed by an act of Congress, and most experts agree that Trump lacks the votes to accomplish this.
Petrilli explained, “This is mostly a talking point, and it’s not going to happen. I think a few weeks from now, this will be a thing of the past.”
It remains unclear how the Trump administration would proceed with its efforts to dismantle the department.
He clarified, “I think the question isn’t whether Congress will abolish the Department of Education; it won’t. The question is whether Trump will destroy the Department of Education on his own.”
