Concerns have been raised following Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education (DoE).
Recently, Trump initiated the closure process for this longstanding department, resulting in the layoff of nearly half of its 4,133 employees.
Currently, just over 2,000 individuals remain employed at the DoE. However, their job security remains uncertain as Trump has signed an executive order aimed at closing the department.
The White House stated on Thursday (March 20) that the department would continue managing federal student loans, though the order itself suggests otherwise.
The order indicates that due to insufficient staffing, the Education Department cannot manage its 1.6 trillion dollar loan portfolio and must transfer bank functions to an entity better suited to serve America’s students.
The large-scale layoffs have already sparked significant criticism.
Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association, commented that the Trump administration has ‘abandoned students, parents, and educators across the nation’.
Conversely, some argue that the DoE has been channeling ‘billions of taxpayer dollars into a failing system’.
Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation and a supporter of the DoE’s closure, stated: “For decades, it has funnelled billions of taxpayer dollars into a failing system — one that prioritises leftist indoctrination over academic excellence, all while student achievement stagnates and America falls further behind.”
The decision has also been met with disapproval from Derrick Johnson, President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
“This is a dark day for the millions of American children who depend on federal funding for a quality education, including those in poor and rural communities with parents who voted for Trump,” he said.
It is anticipated that legal challenges will arise from opponents, including the public interest litigation group Democracy Forward.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer described the order as a ‘tyrannical power grab’ and ‘one of the most destructive and devastating steps Donald Trump has ever taken’.
Margaret Spelling, a former education secretary under Republican President George W. Bush, questioned the department’s ability to fulfill its remaining responsibilities and whether this move would ultimately enhance the education system.
“Will it distract us from the ability to focus urgently on student achievement, or will people be figuring out how to run the train?” she asked.
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