A new broom sweeps clean, but reckless change serves little purpose. After targeting health care — pulling the United States out of the World Health Organization and paralysing USAID — U.S. President Donald Trump has turned to another cornerstone of the state: education, whose long-term significance to any nation is indisputable. Last week, he signed an executive order to “begin eliminating” the federal Department of Education (DoE), vowing to shut it down “as quickly as possible”. Established in 1979, the DoE administers federal student loans for college and university students, and provides targeted support for disadvantaged groups, including students from low-income families and those with disabilities. As in India, public K-12 schools in the U.S. are primarily managed at the State level, with only a fraction of their funding coming from the federal government. Yet the DoE plays a critical role in ensuring a baseline of equity. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the executive order by citing decades of “failing test scores” and low student performance, despite over $3 trillion in federal spending. “What has been the return on that investment for the American taxpayer?” she asked. But demanding a measurable return on investment on public welfare is not just misguided — it borders on malevolence. It targets the most vulnerable students and risks stripping away their only path out of adversity.
The Department of Education has long been in the cross hairs of Conservatives; since the Reagan era, abolishing it has been a Republican aspiration. But no one has come closer to realising that goal than Mr. Trump. Even before signing this order, the department’s workforce had been nearly halved, with abrupt terminations issued under the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency — now a hallmark of the new administration’s approach. Critics have denounced the move, arguing that if student outcomes are truly the concern, efforts should first focus on reforming and strengthening the system, and not dismantling it. Crucially, the executive order cannot take full effect without Congressional approval — and it remains to be seen whether Mr. Trump’s political will can carry it through. Already, lawsuits are being filed in federal courts, challenging the order’s legality. The future of millions of disadvantaged students hangs in the balance. It is up to the rest of the U.S. to ensure that a lifeline is not pulled out.
Published – March 25, 2025 12:10 am IST
