What if the Department of Education is Gone?

The Department of Education, a federal agency with a history dating back to the 1800s, has been a hot topic lately. Some people, including President Trump, want to shut it down. This idea isn't new. In fact, it has been discussed by many politicians over the years. However, the current administration has taken steps to make this a reality. For example, Linda McMahon, the former head of the Small Business Administration, was appointed as the new secretary of education. She sent a memo to department workers claiming they would be carrying out its "final mission. " This has raised many questions about what would happen if the department were to be abolished. The Department of Education has a big role in education. It doesn't control what schools teach, but it does have a hand in distributing federal funds to students with disabilities or those living in poverty. It also protects students' civil rights, collects data from schools, and dispenses federal student loans and Pell Grants. The department's influence on what's taught in schools is limited to advocating for certain reforms or practices.

The question of whether Trump can abolish the Department of Education is a complex one. Legal and political experts generally agree that he cannot do it alone. Only an act of Congress can abolish or establish an agency like the Department of Education. This means that Trump would need the support of both the House and the Senate to make this happen. However, the Republicans do not have the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster in the Senate, and it's unlikely that any Democrats or independents would support this plan. If the Department of Education were to be abolished, its responsibilities would likely be transferred to other entities. However, there is no clear plan for how this would happen, causing widespread concern that the department's responsibilities would simply go away. Critics of Trump have argued that abolishing the Department of Education would disproportionately harm the ability of disabled, lower-to-middle-income, or marginalized students to access a quality education. The Department of Education's higher education loan programs could be transferred to the US Treasury, but this process could be lengthy and chaotic. The Treasury lacks experience with higher education rules, which could lead to some issues. However, the terms and interest rates of your loans wouldn't change if they were controlled by a different agency.

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