Education in the Balance: Trump's Plan and McMahon's Mission

The Department of Education is in a state of uncertainty. President Trump has been hinting at shutting it down for a while, and now he might actually do it. He's already signed a bunch of education-related executive orders and is thinking about taking more drastic steps. This week, the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, cut nearly $1 billion from the Education Department's budget and canceled dozens of contracts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Linda McMahon, Trump's pick for Education Secretary, is set to face the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. She's already met with 19 senators, including Chair Bill Cassidy, who said their talk was productive. Cassidy believes McMahon will give power back to parents and fix the Education Department, which he thinks has been off track for the past four years. But not everyone is on board. Senator Bernie Sanders and some union members rallied against McMahon's nomination. They think public education is crucial for American democracy and should be improved, not destroyed. Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim also questioned McMahon's experience and policy views, saying she doesn't have a strong track record on education issues. McMahon, who used to run World Wrestling Entertainment and was the Small Business Administration administrator during Trump's first term, says she's committed to quality education for all students. She wants to work with students, educators, parents, and communities to make the education system better. Congressional Democrats are worried about Trump's threats to eliminate the Education Department. Some House members were even locked out of the agency's headquarters last week when they tried to meet with Acting Education Secretary Denise Carter. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries thinks it's important for the Department of Education to keep doing its job, which he sees as the heart and soul of America. Even if Trump goes ahead with an executive order, experts say Congress would need to take action to fully eliminate the Department of Education. Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota introduced a bill last year to abolish the department and give control back to the states. Republican Rep. Tom Massie of Kentucky also introduced a one-sentence bill to terminate the agency by the end of 2026. Democratic Rep. Jahana Hayes of Connecticut, the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, has introduced a countermeasure to protect the Department of Education. Hayes thinks there will be public outcry and pushback against Trump's desired cuts to the federal government. But House Speaker Mike Johnson believes education should be handled by local school districts and state governments, not the federal government. He thinks this will empower parents and give them more choices. The Department of Education was established by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. Federal funding makes up less than 10% of the nation's public school funding, which mostly comes from state and local taxes. The agency is responsible for fostering student achievement, helping disadvantaged students and those with special needs, enforcing non-discrimination policies in schools, and supporting federal college loan programs.