How will Trump's disbandment of the Department of Education affect American students?

The U.S. Department of Education, created in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, is the cabinet agency responsible for national education policy and the distribution of federal financial aid to schools, with a budget of approximately $268 billion and 4,400 employees.

President Trump signed an executive order to abolish the U.S. Department of Education, marking a major shift in national education policy. With one signature, he fulfilled a promise he made in 2016 during his first campaign. However, this action immediately caused a wave of controversy in the political and educational world.

The U.S. Department of Education, created in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, is a cabinet-level agency tasked with overseeing national education policy and coordinating federal financial aid programs for school systems nationwide. The agency manages a budget of about $268 billion and has about 4,400 employees.

Mr. Trump recently signed an executive order to dissolve the US Department of Education, marking a major turning point in national education policy. Photo: CES.

The department’s core functions include distributing financial aid to students, collecting data about the education system, monitoring compliance with anti-discrimination regulations, and enforcing education laws passed by Congress. Among its most prominent roles is the federal student aid program, with tens of billions of dollars distributed annually in grants, loans, and work-study programs, supporting more than 13 million students each year.

The department also oversees programs for students with disabilities, English learners, and disadvantaged students. Critics have long argued that education should be left to state and local control, while supporters emphasize the department’s essential role in ensuring educational equity and providing needed federal support to disadvantaged student groups.

Despite Trump’s executive order, dissolving a cabinet-level agency like the Department of Education cannot be done by presidential decree alone. The U.S. Constitution is clear about the separation of powers, and closing a statutory agency requires congressional approval. In fact, no president has ever successfully dissolved a cabinet-level agency that was legally recognized.

The Trump administration acknowledges this limitation. Officials have confirmed that they do not have the votes in Congress to carry out a full-scale dissolution. Instead, the executive order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps within her existing executive authority to prepare for the closure. This could include restructuring functions, appointing leadership with a shared goal of reducing the department’s operations, and transferring some authority to states in cases where the law allows.

The impact of this order on the 50 million public school students and their families across the United States remains unclear. In the short term, students may not feel any significant changes because schools are largely run by states and localities, and budgets are already set. However, in the long term, if federal education programs are adjusted or cut, the effects could be severe, especially for students from vulnerable groups.

Experts warn that weakening the department could disproportionately impact students with disabilities, English language learners and low-income students. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which provides for the rights of students with disabilities, is currently overseen by the Department of Education.

There is also a big question mark over the future of the federal student loan system, which currently manages about $1.69 trillion in debt for more than 43 million Americans. The Trump administration has said functions like student loan processing will continue, but the distribution of grants, part-time work and loans could be disrupted if the administrative transition goes wrong.

It is unclear which agency would take over the responsibility if the Education Department were eliminated. Mr. Trump has suggested that the task could be transferred to the Treasury Department, the Commerce Department or the Small Business Administration. Of those, the Treasury Department is seen as the most likely option.

For students currently in repayment, there may be no immediate changes to their repayment obligations or loan terms. However, finding information, getting advice, or switching repayment options may be more difficult if administrative responsibilities are transferred. At the same time, new students or those preparing to enter college will face a lot of uncertainty about how they will apply for new loans or receive financial aid in the future.

Dissolving the Department of Education, if successful, would be more than just an administrative change; it would also be a clear demonstration of Mr. Trump’s political stance: reducing the role of the federal government in people’s lives and giving more power to the states. However, in the context of American education still facing many challenges of inequality, budget deficits at local levels and the increasing financial burden on students, this decision could create many complex and long-term consequences.

Source: https://danviet.vn/ong-trump-giai-tan-bo-giao-duc-anh-huong-nhu-the-nao-toi-sinh-vien-my-2025032122290953.htm