According to the latest reports from various media outlets, the Trump administration is considering signing an executive order later this month to abolish the USA Department of Education. This plan is also part of Elon Musk and his allies' movement to reduce federal institutions and cut government staff.

Reportedly, officials are discussing an executive order to close all functions of the Department of Education that are not explicitly written into law, or to transfer certain functions to other departments. Insider sources say that the order will require the drafting of a legislative proposal to abolish the department.

In terms of specific measures, it is also reported that the executive order will adopt a two-step strategy: first, to instruct the Department of Education to formulate a plan to gradually end its functions using the President's existing executive powers; second, to require the Department of Education to organize the complex legal framework required to delegate its powers to other institutions in preparation for the ultimate closure of the Department, while also requiring the drafting of a legislative proposal for the complete abolition of the Department.

Analysis indicates that this move aims to fulfill Trump's campaign promise to eliminate the Department of Education, limit federal involvement in education, and empower the states. Conservatives have been highly critical of the Department of Education under the Biden administration, especially regarding decisions on student loan forgiveness and extending protections against gender discrimination in education to the LGBTQ community. The conservative think tank Heritage Foundation's "2025 Plan" also calls for the abolishment of this department.

However, the Trump administration's efforts to abolish the Department of Education face significant obstacles, including legal restrictions, lack of support from Congress, and public opposition. On the one hand, completely abolishing the Department requires legislative support from Congress, but there has been little interest from Congress on this matter for many years. Trump attempted to merge the Department of Education with the Department of Labor during his first term, but failed to succeed. On the other hand, the latest polls show that 61% of registered voters oppose abolishing the Department. Most Americans prefer to protect funding for education and other domestic priorities rather than cutting taxes.

What is Trump's opinion on abolishing the Department of Education?

Trump stated on the social media platform X that educational performance in the USA among developed countries is "poor," ranking "last," while spending the most on education.

In the recent international assessment (PISA test), the USA ranked 6th in reading, 10th in science, and 26th in mathematics among 81 countries. Earlier test results showed that the USA's rankings were lower, especially in mathematics.

Meanwhile, the USA's education spending is relatively high. According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the per-student education expenditure in the USA exceeds that of many countries that scored higher in these tests, such as Finland and South Korea.

Trump believes that the educational performance in some states may not be satisfactory, but many states can manage educational affairs better while reducing spending. He expects that out of the 50 states, 35 states can perform excellently, with 15 to 20 states reaching levels "as excellent as Norway."

Trump cites Norway as an example, possibly because the country is known for its high-quality education system, often ranking at the top in international tests.

Although Trump proposed abolishing the Department of Education, he also argued for the federal government to retain limited supervisory functions. He stated that the federal government can "slightly oversee," for example, ensuring that schools teach English. "You have to make sure they are teaching English, for instance. Give us some English, right?"

Why do conservatives in the USA wish to abolish the Department of Education?

In fact, the abolition of the Department of Education has been a long-standing proposition by the Republican Party. Since the establishment of the Department in 1980 during President Ronald Reagan's administration, the Republicans have been trying to shut down the department. However, after several Republican administrations, including Trump’s first term, the Department of Education still exists.

Established in 1979, the Department of Education is the smallest cabinet-level agency. The existence of the Department and most of its functions are legally grounded. Its main activities include providing grants to low-income students, regulating school services for students with disabilities, enforcing civil rights laws, and managing federal student loan programs. Its largest K-12 education program provides funding for schools in highly impoverished areas and for students with disabilities.

Additionally, the Department of Education in the USA is not the primary source of funding for schools. Before the infusion of pandemic relief funds, the federal government covered only about 8% of K-12 (kindergarten to 12th grade) education costs. In recent years, this proportion has risen to nearly 11%. However, it is not easy to forgo this funding to avoid federal regulations.

The analysis also states that the conservative opposition is based on several aspects:

1. Educational Sovereignty: The belief that education matters should be managed by local and state governments, with excessive federal intervention contradicting the spirit of the Constitution.

2. Reducing the size of government: Conservatives advocate for a 'small government' and wish to cut back on federal agencies and bureaucracies.

3. Inefficiency: Conservatives criticize the Department of Education for its inefficiency and waste of resources, claiming it cannot effectively close the educational gap associated with race and poverty.

The proposal still reflects the ideological struggle between progressive and conservative educational philosophies. During the Democratic administration, the Department of Education tended to adopt more progressive educational methods and civil rights enforcement measures, which sparked discontent among conservatives. For example:

• During the Obama administration: The government required schools to review the proportion of Black students being suspended or expelled to prevent potential discrimination. This policy was criticized for leading to lax school discipline, affecting safety.

• During the Biden administration: The Biden government issued rules under Title IX to provide more protections for LGBTQ students, but this has led to lawsuits from several Republican-led states.

Jonathan Butcher, a senior researcher at the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, stated that the states have always been sources of innovation in Education, such as charter schools and Education savings Accounts. He believes that the Department of Education not only distracts states from improving Education but also creates unnecessary bureaucracy.

Butcher pointed out that although there have been improvements in some areas, achievement gaps based on race and poverty still exist. He believes this indicates that the Department of Education "has failed to achieve its purpose" and emphasizes that abolishing the Department of Education "is in the interest of a smaller government and also in the interest of doing the right thing for children."

Editor/lambor