Throughout his election campaign, President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly criticized the federal Department of Education, accusing the agency of being gradually infiltrated by “radical, fanatical elements.”
In the United States, the Department of Education is responsible for the financing and management of education, including allocating funds to schools, managing student loans, and providing student aid. Dissolving this agency could therefore pose many challenges, requiring the transfer of functions and responsibilities to another agency.
Federal education funding plays a key role in President-elect Donald Trump's plans for colleges, universities and high schools.
He pledged to cut federal funding for schools that teach content related to “critical race theory, transgender absurdity, and other racially, sexually, or politically inappropriate content.”
Mr. Trump also vowed to reward states and schools that abolish teacher tenure and implement universal school choice programs.
According to AP and ABC News, since 2023, Mr. Trump has continuously criticized the student debt relief efforts of the Joe Biden administration, calling it "illegal and unfair" and will have a negative impact on young people.
With programs to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ students and racial minorities, the president-elect pledged to stop policies he considers discriminatory and illegal.
Additionally, Mr. Trump would also exclude transgender students from Title IX protections that prohibit all forms of discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
When it comes to college accreditation, the U.S. Department of Education oversees accrediting organizations to help schools qualify for financial aid. Donald Trump has vowed to fire accrediting organizations he considers “radical leftists,” and only recognize those that “defend American traditions.”
Mr. Trump also proposed transferring the Department of Education’s ability to allocate funding for K-12 schools through programs like Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) directly to the states.
However, to date, there is no detailed plan on how to handle the core role of the Ministry of Education in the event of its dissolution.
