Erin Grant & Lilyana Vasquez
Staff Writers
The future of The U.S. Department of Education is facing significant uncertainty as the White House pushes forward with a strategy to restructure the agency.
On Feb. 4, the White House outlined a two-pronged approach to downsizing the department. The initial phase targets programs that were not explicitly created by Congress, making them easier to eliminate. However, the department’s major functions— such as Title I funding for low-income schools, IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and the federal student loan system —are protected by congressional statute, meaning any major structural changes would require legislative approval.
Congressional hurdles remain a significant obstacle to these plans. The Department of Education manages several critical programs, including funding for schools in low-income communities and protections for the civil rights of students with disabilities. Hypothetically, Linda McMahon would be responsible for overseeing these programs as long as Congress continues to uphold them.
McMahon, the nominee for Secretary of Education, previously served on the Connecticut State Board of Education for one year but is better known for leading World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for decades. McMahon previously stated on X in December that she would focus on “reforming the Department of Education.”
During her confirmation hearing on Feb. 13, McMahon criticized the public education system for being too expensive at the collegiate level and inefficient. Changes are already happening within government, cutting important funding for education programs per McMahon’s requests.
On Feb. 10, NPR reported that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced sweeping budget cuts to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), an independent office within the Department of Education responsible for education research. The cuts eliminated nearly $9 million in contracts, putting vital education data collection on hold. Republican Senator Susan Collins raised concerns about these cuts, stating that former educators in her state had relied on IES grants to develop effective tutoring models.
“Considering the poor reading and math scores … shouldn’t the Department of Education continue to collect data and evaluate outcomes rather than halt these activities?” Collins asked.
McMahon also faced backlash over her stance on DEI programs, which she described as having “an opposite effect” by leading to increased school segregation rather than inclusion. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy challenged her, pointing out that Department of Defense schools had already canceled Black History Month programming. Murphy asked whether public schools could lose federal funding for allowing students to form extracurricular clubs based on race or ethnicity.
Senator Maggie Hassan emphasized the department’s crucial role in protecting students with disabilities.
“People need to understand, people like my son, before IDEA, before the Department of Education existed, state and local schools did not educate [kids with disabilities],” Hassan said. “They barred them from the classrooms.”
As the administration moves forward, the larger debate centers on what the federal government’s role in education should be. Representative Bobby Scott of Virginia noted the irony of discussing education policy while actively working to dismantle the agency responsible for ensuring equitable access to education. Meanwhile, Republican Representative Bob Onder of Missouri voiced strong support for abolishing the department entirely, stating, “How can we get back on the focus of educating kids rather than indoctrination and, you know, bloating our school bureaucracies?”
With congressional approval needed for any significant restructuring, the future of the Department of Education remains uncertain. The debate over its role in education policy, funding, and enforcement is likely to continue in the months ahead. FSC Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Bruce Anderson cautions students but urges them to stay diligent.
“Pay close attention to the front page at all times. You’ll not, not hear about it if they do something,” Anderson said. “It’s not just things like the Department of Education you guys need to watch, you need to watch what they’re gonna do to actually affect you as students.”
