Speculation has been rife about the potential closure of the U.S. Department of Education, particularly with the incoming Trump administration. While it remains speculative, and Congressional involvement would be necessary, the idea of dismantling or significantly diminishing the agency has been voiced, even through executive action. President Trump has expressed intentions to send education “BACK TO THE STATES,” suggesting a fundamental shift in federal involvement in education.
This prospect of abolishing an agency managing over $200 billion in resources has sparked widespread concern and curiosity among parents, students, educators, and policymakers. While the federal government’s financial contribution to education is less than state and local governments combined, the Department of Education wields considerable influence through regulations tied to federal funding. Eliminating the department raises critical questions about the future of federal education laws, funding distribution, and oversight, especially for vulnerable student populations.
Republican lawmakers have already initiated steps in this direction. Senator Mike Rounds introduced a bill to dissolve the Department of Education, proposing the redistribution of its functions across other federal agencies. Representative Thomas Massie also presented legislation aimed at abolishing the department altogether.
To address the uncertainties surrounding this potential dismantling, we’ve consulted experts and advocates across various educational domains, including student loans, special education, and financial aid. While the complexities are significant, exploring the possible ramifications is crucial. The Office of Technology Assessment serves as a historical example of a federal agency eliminated simply by defunding, highlighting that even substantial agencies can be dismantled. Established in 1979, the Department of Education’s reach is vast, impacting communities nationwide. Its influence extends beyond daily classroom learning, affecting crucial aspects like funding for specialized equipment for students with disabilities, resources for struggling learners, college financial aid for low-income students, and student loan forgiveness programs.
It’s important to recognize that numerous education-related programs operate independently of the Department of Education. For instance, the education of students in military base housing or on Native American reservations falls under the Departments of Defense and Interior, respectively. Similarly, the Department of Agriculture oversees school lunch and breakfast programs, and the Department of Health and Human Services manages major childcare programs for low-income families.
Let’s delve into specific questions about the potential consequences of abolishing the Department of Education across different educational sectors.
Early Education
What would happen to federal early education programs if the Department of Education was abolished?
Notably, the largest federal early childhood programs, Head Start and the Child Care Development Block Grant, are administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, not the Department of Education. Therefore, their immediate operations would remain unaffected by the abolishment of the Department of Education.
However, the Department of Education does oversee and fund several smaller yet significant early learning initiatives and early childhood research projects. The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five, for example, provides crucial funding for state early learning programs and is jointly managed with HHS. Programs like Promise Neighborhoods and Full Service Community Schools also focus on early childhood development and family support under the Department of Education’s purview.
Furthermore, the Department of Education is home to numerous research centers dedicated to young children, many conducting long-term studies and research aimed at improving outcomes for infants and toddlers, particularly those with disabilities. If the Department were abolished, these research programs would likely need to be relocated to another federal agency to ensure their continuation. The survival and future direction of these programs would depend on political will and budgetary priorities within a new administrative framework.
K12 Education
What happens to Title I funding and other K12 funds distributed by the Department of Education if it was abolished?
The abolishment of the Department of Education would not automatically eliminate federal programs like Title I. Title I, established in 1965, is a cornerstone of federal education law, providing funding to schools with high proportions of low-income students. This program is deeply embedded in federal legislation and would likely continue to exist even without the Department of Education.
The most probable scenario is that Title I funding would be channeled through another federal agency. Significant cuts to Title I are considered unlikely due to its broad bipartisan support in Congress. Nearly every school district nationwide benefits from Title I funding, making it politically challenging to significantly reduce or eliminate.
Nora Gordon, a public policy professor at Georgetown University, suggests that substantial cuts to Title I are improbable. Even members of Congress critical of federal programs for low-income families would likely be hesitant to defund Title I, given its widespread reach and importance in supporting schools across the country.
Would special education be affected if the Department of Education was abolished?
Similar to Title I, the legal framework for special education, primarily the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), would remain in effect even if the Department of Education were abolished. IDEA, originally passed in 1975, predates the Department of Education and was initially administered by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (now HHS).
Currently, IDEA serves approximately 7.5 million children, with the Department of Education overseeing around $14 billion in funding for school-aged children in fiscal year 2024, along with additional funds for younger children and related programs.
If the Department of Education were eliminated, oversight of special education would likely shift to another federal agency, potentially causing bureaucratic adjustments. However, the fundamental tenets of IDEA, including the rights of students with disabilities and the funding allocated for their education, would not change without congressional action. The core principles of identifying students with disabilities, developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and providing necessary supports and services would remain legally mandated.
Would abolishing the Department of Education lead to universal private school vouchers?
The future of the Department of Education and the expansion of school choice are separate issues. Regardless of the Department’s fate, the Trump administration, with Congressional support, could pursue policies to expand school choice nationwide. Universal school choice, encompassing vouchers for private schools, is a prominent Republican priority.
During the first Trump administration, Secretary Betsy DeVos advocated for expanding school choice through charter schools and private school vouchers. However, Congress did not fully support her budget requests for these initiatives. Despite previous setbacks, political conditions might now be more favorable for advancing school choice policies.
President Trump has indicated intentions to expand 529 college savings plans to cover homeschooling expenses and supports Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), which allow families to use public funds for private education. While some states have adopted ESA programs, and the Supreme Court has expanded religious rights related to education, school choice initiatives have faced resistance in some areas and have been rejected by voters in some states. However, with a Republican-controlled Congress, federal-level school choice legislation may have a higher chance of success.
What would happen to the school lunch program if the Department of Education was abolished?
The school lunch program would likely remain largely unaffected by the abolishment of the Department of Education. The National School Lunch Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), not the Department of Education. While the Department of Education utilizes data collected by schools regarding free and reduced-price lunch eligibility for various purposes, the USDA’s operation of the lunch program itself is independent. Approximately 30 million students participate in the National School Lunch Program daily.
Although the school lunch program’s administration is separate, proposed budget changes could impact its scope. The Project 2025, for example, advocates for reducing federal spending on school meals, viewing them as straying from their original purpose and representing federal overreach into local school operations. While Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, broader efforts to curb federal spending could indirectly affect school meal programs in the future, although not directly through the abolishment of the Department of Education.
What would happen to education research and academic achievement tracking if the Department of Education was abolished?
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the research and statistics arm of the Department of Education, is mandated by law, and its functions would not automatically cease with the Department’s abolishment. IES plays a crucial role in collecting and disseminating national education data, from enrollment and school spending to class sizes and teacher retention. It also funds research to improve instruction and evaluates educational programs. A significant portion of IES’s budget supports the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a key measure of academic achievement.
Theoretically, IES’s functions could be transferred to other federal agencies. Former IES director Mark Schneider suggests that education research could move to the National Science Foundation, the statistics unit (National Center for Education Statistics) could be integrated into the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and NAEP’s future location would need to be determined.
The scrutiny surrounding the potential abolishment of the Department could provide an opportunity to re-evaluate and potentially restructure the federal role in education research and data collection. Advocates could use this moment to lobby for improvements and reforms within the research division, regardless of where it is ultimately housed.
What about the Office for Civil Rights if the Department of Education was abolished?
The dismantling of the Department of Education could negatively impact the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Established concurrently with the Department, OCR investigates discrimination complaints in education based on race, disability, sex, age, or national origin. During the first Trump administration, OCR experienced staffing reductions and a backlog of cases, leading to less rigorous enforcement.
In a future Trump administration, the situation could worsen. Funding for OCR could be further reduced, and the office could be redirected to align with administration priorities, potentially focusing on investigating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs rather than traditional civil rights enforcement. This shift could deter families facing discrimination from filing complaints, fearing unfair treatment.
Furthermore, the Civil Rights Data Collection, which OCR manages and which provides crucial public data on student enrollment, access to coursework, discipline, and bullying, could be jeopardized. While not federally mandated, this data collection is vital for transparency and accountability in education. Although data collection continued during Trump’s first term, its future could be uncertain if the Department of Education were abolished and OCR’s priorities shifted.
What would happen to charter schools if the Department of Education was abolished?
Charter schools, governed by state and local decisions, would likely continue to operate even if the Department of Education were abolished. The creation and closure of charter schools are primarily determined at the state and local levels.
However, charter schools, like all public schools, receive federal funding through programs like Title I. Changes to federal funding streams could indirectly affect charter schools. Additionally, the Department of Education oversees the Charter Schools Program, which provides funding for charter school startup and expansion. This program is codified in federal law, but its future funding and administration could be subject to change if the Department were eliminated and its functions redistributed.
Higher Education
What happens to student loans if the Department of Education is abolished?
Student loan debt would not disappear if the Department of Education were abolished. The Department contracts with loan servicers managing nearly $2 trillion in student loan debt and oversees loan forgiveness programs. The terms and conditions of existing student loans would remain unchanged.
If the Department of Education were abolished, student loan oversight and debt collection would likely be transferred to the Treasury Department. Initially, the loan servicers might remain the same.
However, significant policy shifts in student loans are anticipated. Republicans in Congress have proposed the College Cost Reduction Act, aiming to increase Pell Grants for upper-level undergraduates in high-demand fields, simplify loan repayment, and modify loan availability. This act also proposes holding colleges accountable for student loan defaults.
The Biden administration’s efforts to forgive student loan debt are expected to end. The legality of these forgiveness programs has been challenged in courts, and the Trump administration is likely to oppose further broad-based loan forgiveness initiatives.
What about Pell Grants and other financial aid for college if the Department of Education was abolished?
Pell Grants, crucial for low-income college students, are unlikely to disappear even without the Department of Education. Congress controls Pell Grant eligibility and funding, making it improbable for the executive branch to unilaterally eliminate the program. Pell Grants have long enjoyed bipartisan support in Congress.
However, changes to Pell Grant eligibility and award amounts are possible through congressional action. The proposed College Cost Reduction Act includes provisions to modify Pell Grant calculations, potentially pegging awards to median program costs and altering financial need assessments. These changes could reduce Pell Grant amounts for some students, particularly those in higher-cost programs or regions.
Trump’s nominee for education secretary supports expanding Pell Grant eligibility to short-term job training programs. This “short-term Pell” concept, while having some bipartisan support, raises concerns about diverting funds from traditional degree programs and the quality and effectiveness of short-term programs.
Despite criticisms of recent FAFSA rollouts, there is a general consensus to simplify student financial aid access. The College Cost Reduction Act includes provisions to standardize college financial aid offers to improve clarity and comparability for students.
What happens to Title IX regulations regarding sex-based discrimination in schools and colleges if the Department of Education was abolished?
Title IX regulations, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education, would remain in effect regardless of the Department of Education’s existence. Title IX is part of the Civil Rights Act, and the government’s responsibility to enforce civil rights laws would continue even without the Department.
If the Department were abolished, Title IX enforcement would likely shift to the Department of Justice. However, concerns exist about whether Title IX enforcement would receive the same priority within the Justice Department given its broader responsibilities.
Policy changes to Title IX are expected under a Trump administration. Trump’s agenda includes reinstating previous protections for those accused of Title IX violations, such as mandatory live hearings and cross-examination in sexual harassment cases. Conversely, President Biden had made live hearings optional.
Furthermore, Trump’s agenda signals intentions to cut federal funding for schools promoting “radical gender ideology,” likely leading to the reversal of Biden-era Title IX protections for transgender students and those facing sexual orientation-based discrimination.
What happens to proposed rules about transgender athletes participating in sports if the Department of Education was abolished?
The Biden administration’s proposed rule to protect transgender athletes’ participation in sports is unlikely to be finalized under a Trump administration and could be entirely reversed. This rule aimed to prevent states from categorically banning transgender students from sports.
Instead, a Trump administration is expected to pursue a federal ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports. Trump has indicated he would ask Congress to define “gender” as only male and female assigned at birth and to explicitly exclude transgender women from women’s sports under Title IX.
Many states already have bans on transgender athletes in K-12 sports. Federal legislation rewriting Title IX could extend these bans to college athletics. Currently, the NCAA allows individual sports’ governing bodies to determine transgender athlete participation, subject to NCAA eligibility review.
Would there be a change in how for-profit colleges operate if the Department of Education was abolished?
The Department of Education provides oversight of colleges, including for-profit institutions, although states also play a regulatory role. Abolishing the Department could potentially reduce federal oversight, potentially leading to less stringent quality control for both for-profit and non-profit colleges.
Even without abolishing the Department, a Trump administration could still roll back regulations aimed at curbing for-profit college abuses. During his first term, Trump rescinded the Obama-era gainful employment rule, which held career programs accountable for graduates’ ability to repay student loans. The Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen this rule faced legal challenges. While some form of gainful employment rule might return, it is likely to be less stringent under a Trump administration.
Another Obama-era rule, borrower defense, which provides loan forgiveness for students defrauded by colleges, is also at risk. A Trump administration is expected to slow down processing borrower defense claims, potentially by challenging claims or understaffing relevant agencies.
This analysis regarding the potential consequences of abolishing the Department of Education is based on expert consultations and existing policy frameworks. For in-depth, fact-based reporting on education, subscribe to The Hechinger Report newsletter.
