President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Apr. 3, to scale down the Department of Education, a move that is expected to release a rally of lawsuits challenging his reasoning and that will likely require approval from Congress.
Trump has always discussed plans to eliminate the Department of Education dating back to his campaign during September of 2024.
“Stop the abuse of taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America’s youth,” Trump said at a rally during his 2024 presidential campaign.
Members of the U.S. government have rallied against the public education in the U.S. and supposedly declining test scores by U.S. students. Critics in the White House have pointed out the “Nation’s Report Card,” the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), released every two years and published on Jan. 27. The exam tests fourth and eight grade students and found almost stable scores for math compared to 2022. Reading, however, dropped two points at both grade levels.
“I think the Department of Education was unfair in rural areas compared to more urban areas creating a difference in Education that was not great,” said junior Brayden Lame.
The Department of Education, established in 1980, seeks to improve coordination of federal education programs and support school systems. The agency received around $200 billion in 2024, according to ed.gov.
Trump said at a rally in September of 2024 that he wanted to, “… stop the abuse of tax dollars to indoctrinate America’s youth with all sorts that you don’t want to have our youth hearing.”
The republican president argued that the federal office has not improved student outcomes and is unnecessary in a country where states and local districts primarily control education from funding to the curriculum.
The opposition argues that people should be worried of stolen information.
President of the American Federation of Teacher said, ”More than the Department of Education, this will impact individuals. Think in terms of treasury and in terms of education…No one elected Donald Trump or Elon Musk to take their private information.”
If the richest man in the world wanted people’s information he would have done it a while ago. With companies like Pay Pal that he established in the year 1998.
Trump’s executive order to scale down the Department of Education is a bold and necessary step towards rethinking federal involvement in U.S. education. Trump’s plan to reduce federal control offers an opportunity for states to make decisions that reflect their educational needs and populations.
