During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump criticized the federal Department of Education, calling it infiltrated by “radicals, zealots, and Marxists.” He appointed Linda McMahon, a former wrestling executive, to lead the department, but has also called for dismantling it, a move that would require congressional approval.
The department primarily manages financial operations, distributing billions in federal funds to schools and colleges and overseeing student loans. Trump has proposed cutting federal funding for institutions promoting what he deems “inappropriate” content, like critical race theory and transgender issues, while supporting states that implement school choice programs and end teacher tenure.
The Education Department handles roughly $1.5 trillion in student loan debt, manages Pell Grants, and administers the FAFSA. Under the Biden administration, efforts to cancel student loan debt have faced resistance from Republicans, with Trump calling debt forgiveness “illegal” and “unfair.” His plans for student debt, however, remain unclear.
The department’s Office for Civil Rights enforces civil rights laws, including protections for LGBTQ+ students. Trump has proposed changing its role, claiming that diversity policies in schools are discriminatory. He has pledged to remove transgender students from Title IX protections, which Biden’s administration expanded to include gender identity and sexual orientation.
Regarding college accreditation, the Education Department oversees accrediting agencies, a key process for institutions to access federal aid. Trump has suggested firing “radical left” accreditors and replacing them with those who uphold conservative values.
In K-12 education, Trump called for shifting responsibilities for programs like Title I and special education to the states, with proposals from conservative think tanks like the Heritage Foundation suggesting transferring oversight to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Overall, Trump’s vision for dismantling the Department of Education would significantly alter how federal education funding and civil rights protections are managed, shifting responsibilities to state governments and other agencies.
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