This is an article from the February 2025 Civitas Examiner (Volume 2, No. 1) and was written by one of our students, Navya M. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue. To read more Civitas Examiner stories or to submit your own, click here.
Donald Trump wants to dismantle the Department of Education, can he really do that?
Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about Donald Trump wanting to get rid of the Department of Education (DOE). At first, it sounded like just another wild political promise, but the more I looked into it, the more real it became. This isn’t just an idea Trump came up with, it’s actually part of Project 2025, a detailed conservative plan for reshaping the government. Which, by the way, he said he hasn’t even read.
So, what would it mean if this actually happened? Let’s start with the basics: What does the Department of Education even do?
Right now, the DOE is in charge of distributing federal funding to schools, enforcing civil rights laws (like making sure schools don’t discriminate against students with disabilities), collecting national education data, and overseeing financial aid programs like Pell Grants and federal student loans. It’s in charge of the $1.6 trillion federal student loan program and a range of grants for K-12 schools. It doesn’t run the individual schools, but it sets nationwide standards and guidelines to help ensure students get a fair education no matter where they might live.
So Trump suggested eliminating the DOE and giving all power over education back to individual states. He and other conservatives argue that states should have full control over what schools teach, how they’re funded, and what rules they follow. The problem? This could lead to massive disparities. Wealthier states might have more well-funded schools, while poorer states could struggle even more. Civil rights protections could also become weaker, making it harder for students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, and students in low-income areas to get the support they need.
Now, can Trump actually do this? Well, not by himself. Adding or removing a cabinet-level position takes an act of Congress. The DOE was created by Congress in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, so only the Congress can vote to get rid of it. That’s not easy, even with a Republican majority. It would still need a supermajority of 60 in the Senate. So not only would he have to get every single Republican, they’d have to convince 7 democrats to vote in their favor. Trump talked about eliminating the DOE during his first term, but it never happened because, realistically, shutting down an entire government department is complicated.
That said, just because it didn’t happen before doesn’t mean it won’t this time. Project 2025 outlines a very clear plan for dismantling the DOE, and Trump is pushing harder than ever to make it a reality. Even if Congress doesn’t fully abolish the department, Trump could still slash its budget, limit its power, or fill it with officials who don’t believe in its mission.
So, what does this mean for students like me? Less federal oversight could mean schools in different states have completely different standards. It could mean less protection for students who rely on federal education laws. And it could mean big changes to how college financial aid works. In short, this isn’t just some far-off political idea, it’s a real possibility, and it could affect millions of students.
If the government really wants to improve education, wouldn’t it make more sense to fix the system rather than tearing it down entirely? That’s a question we should all be asking before it’s too late.
