Potential Consequences of Shutting Down the Education Department

Potential Consequences of Shutting Down the Education Department

Massive Staff Cuts at the Department of Education Raise Concerns

The Department of Education (ED) has experienced significant staffing reductions, with the workforce being cut by nearly half since the start of President Donald Trump's second term. This move, announced by Education Secretary Linda McMahon on July 14, 2025, follows a Supreme Court order that cleared the way for the termination of over 1,000 ED workers [1][2][3][4].

The layoffs, which began earlier in 2025, have impacted all major functions of the department, including financial aid processing, civil rights enforcement, and education research. These cuts have raised widespread concern among higher education leaders and advocacy groups, who warn that the department’s ability to fulfill statutory obligations and support critical education programs may be compromised [1][2][3].

Title I, a program established in 1965 that provides money to schools with large numbers of low-income students, is part of federal law and would not be affected by closing the Department of Education [1]. However, concerns remain about the potential disruptions to student aid and civil rights enforcement, as well as the Trump administration's plans to cut special education support funding [5].

In addition to staffing cuts, there are growing fears that the administration plans to sharply reduce special education grants, particularly those linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within education [5]. The future of the Department of Education remains uncertain, with ongoing discussions about its role and resources nationwide [1][2][3][5].

One-fourth of the Institute of Education Sciences' (IES) $800 million a year budget goes to administering the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Regardless of the future of the Department of Education, Trump could, with the support of Congress, take some action to expand school choice nationwide [1].

The dismantling of the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights could lead to less rigorous enforcement and a backlog of cases due to staffing declines. The Office for Civil Rights investigates complaints against school districts, universities, and other education institutions to ensure they are not discriminating against students and others based on race/ethnicity, disability, sex, age, or national origin [1].

The Pell grant, which most low-income students use to help pay for college, is unlikely to disappear, as Congress controls who is eligible for Pell. However, there are proposals to change eligibility and the award amount [1]. The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) collects and aggregates data from more than 19,000 school districts around the country [1].

Charter schools could continue serving students even if the Education Department were shuttered, but changes to federal programs like Title I could affect charters [1]. Student debt won't disappear even if the Education Department does, and it's likely that student loan oversight and debt collection would shift to the Treasury Department [1]. Mark Schneider, former IES director, suggested that education research could shift to the National Science Foundation, statistics to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and NAEP to a less obvious agency [1].

Eliminating the Department of Education would likely have little or no impact on the school lunch program, as it is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The most well-known and biggest federal early childhood programs, Head Start and the Child Care Development Block Grant, are not a part of the Education Department - they're administered by the Department of Health and Human Services [1].

Linda McMahon, confirmed as education secretary in March, described her role as guiding the department through its "final mission" [1]. Despite the ongoing changes, the law now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was passed in 1975, four years before the Education Department was formed [1].

References: 1. The Hill 2. Education Week 3. The Washington Post 4. NPR 5. The New York Times

1. Higher education leaders and advocacy groups express concern that the Department of Education's (ED) staffing cuts may compromise its ability to support critical education programs.
2. Inequality remains a concern with the Trump administration's plans to potentially reduce special education support funding.
3. Charter schools could face changes if federal programs like Title I are affected by the potential dismantling of the Department of Education.
4. The Pell grant eligibility and award amount are likely to be affected by policy-and-legislation discussions.
5. The discontinuation of the Department of Education could lead to less rigorous enforcement of civil rights in institutions like charter schools and universities.
6. Community schools could offer a potential avenue for research in education, as suggested by Mark Schneider, former IES director, in the event of the Education Department's elimination.

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