So, you've probably heard the headlines. People are freaking out, or cheering, depending on which side of the fence they sit on. The question is everywhere: Does Trump want to remove the Department of Education? Honestly, the answer isn't a simple "yes" or "no" because, in the world of D.C. politics, "removing" something usually looks more like a messy divorce than a clean break.
Back in March 2025, President Trump didn't exactly mince words. He signed an executive order to kickstart the process of dismantling the agency once and for all. He’s called the department a "wasteful" bureaucracy that hasn't actually improved student test scores despite decades of spending. But if you walk into the building at 400 Maryland Avenue today in 2026, the lights are still on. Sorta.
The Plan to Dismantle from Within
Basically, the strategy isn't just about a big "Closed" sign. It's about "selling it for parts," as some critics put it. In late 2025, the administration started shifting massive chunks of what the Department of Education (ED) does to other agencies. It’s a bit like a shell game.
Management of K-12 and higher education programs moved to the Department of Labor. Education for Native Americans went to the Department of the Interior. Even international education programs got shipped over to the State Department. By doing this, the administration is trying to bypass the need for a full vote in Congress—which is the only place that can legally kill an agency—by just making the ED smaller and smaller until there's nothing left but an empty shell.
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Secretary Linda McMahon has been leading this "Returning Education to the States" tour. The goal, according to the White House, is to stop "federal overreach" and let local school boards and parents decide what kids learn. Trump's 2026 budget request actually reflects this "winding down" phase, asking for a 15.3% cut in funding. That’s about $12 billion gone.
What Happens to the Money?
This is where things get real for families. If you have a kid in a public school or you're paying off a mountain of student loans, you're probably wondering where the cash goes if the department vanishes.
- Title I and IDEA: These are the big ones. Title I helps low-income schools, and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) ensures kids with disabilities get the support they need. Legally, the money is still there because Congress passed the laws. But without the ED to manage the grants, the administration is moving that oversight to Labor and HHS.
- Student Loans: The government currently manages a $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio. Trump has argued that the ED isn't a bank and shouldn't act like one. There’s been talk of moving this to the Treasury or even private entities.
- The "DEI" Freeze: In early 2026, the administration froze billions in funding to "review" spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. This has caused a lot of chaos for school districts that rely on that money for basic operations.
Some people think this is a long-overdue pruning of a bloated government. Others, like the National Education Association, say it's an "illegal" attempt to abandon students. Honestly, both sides are digging in for a massive legal fight that will likely end up at the Supreme Court.
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Why it's Not Gone Yet
You can't just delete a federal department with a Sharpie. It takes an Act of Congress. Right now, even with a Republican majority, there are enough moderates who worry about losing federal funding for their local schools that a total "abolishment" is a tough sell. Plus, the Senate filibuster is a giant wall standing in the way of a clean kill.
Instead of a sudden death, we're seeing a "hollowing out." The Office for Civil Rights has already seen its staff slashed. Career employees are being reassigned or are quitting. The department is still "there," but it's becoming a shadow of its former self.
What You Should Do Now
If you're a parent or a student, the "will they or won't they" drama can be exhausting. Here is how to actually navigate this:
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- Check Your Local District: Since the goal is to "return power to the states," your local school board is about to become way more powerful. If federal oversight drops, state laws on curriculum and disability rights will matter more than ever.
- Watch the Courts: Many of these "interagency transfers" are being sued. If a judge stops the move to the Labor Department, the ED might have to stay intact longer than Trump wants.
- Loan Borrowers, Stay Alert: There’s currently a pause on involuntary collections (like wage garnishment) as of January 2026, but the rules are shifting fast. Keep a close eye on your servicer notifications because the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" changed a lot of the repayment structures.
The Department of Education isn't dead, but it's definitely in the hospital. Whether it's being "reformed" or "destroyed" really depends on who you ask, but the reality is that the federal role in your local classroom is shrinking faster than ever before.
Stay updated on your state's education budget. As federal grants get "reviewed" or cut, your state might try to hike local taxes to fill the gap—or they might just cut programs. Either way, the local level is where the real impact will hit first.