On March 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and return educational authority to the states.
This order directs the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to follow several demands: “ … to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education, and return authority over education to the States and local communities.”
“… the Secretary of Education shall ensure that the allocation of any Federal Department of Education funds is subject to rigorous compliance with Federal law and Administration policy, including the requirement that any program or activity receiving Federal assistance terminate illegal discrimination obscured under the label “diversity, equity, and inclusion” or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology,” Trump signed.
While congressional approval would be necessary to dissolve the Department completely, Republicans in Congress are actively planning legislation to eliminate the agency; however, they face significant opposition from Democrats. The order advances one of Trump’s campaign promises: dismantling the Department of Education due to the Republican Party’s concerns over both federal interference in classrooms and liberal ideologies in higher education systems. Yet, the proposal is already facing loads of backlash from immigrant groups and numerous advocates.
“Dismantling the Department in haste could cripple the government’s ability to accurately distribute billions in federal student aid, putting millions of students at risk — especially low-income students who lack a financial safety net,” Beth Maglione, interim president and CEO at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, said in a statement.
The primary mission of this department, according to its website, is clear: “… to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access for students of all ages.”
Trump orders the directive as high school seniors anticipate the results from colleges, concerning their admissions outcomes and financial assistance. Current college students may also be expecting updates regarding their financial aid offers for the 2025-26 academic year.
″[FAFSA] is certainly something we’ll be keeping an eye on,” Maglione said. “With the recent reduction in force and plans to further dismember the department, it’s unclear who will oversee certain aspects of student aid administration and what plans there are, if any, for how work will be redistributed.”
