The Trump administration is preparing a sweeping plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a move that would dramatically reshape how schools are funded and governed across the United States. The proposal, now drawing national attention, would shift most federal education responsibilities back to individual states and other agencies, reviving a long-standing conservative goal.

According to reports, the plan would eliminate or significantly shrink the department, which was established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter. The Education Department currently oversees federal student loans, enforces civil-rights protections in schools, distributes billions in aid to low-income districts, and sets nationwide education policies.

Supporters of the proposal argue that education decisions should be handled locally, not by federal bureaucracies. They say states and communities are better positioned to tailor policies to their own students and economic realities. Conservative lawmakers and think tanks have long contended that the department represents federal overreach and unnecessary spending.

Critics, however, warn that dismantling the agency could destabilize the nation’s education system, particularly for disadvantaged students. Civil-rights advocates fear the loss of federal oversight that ensures equal access to education for minorities, students with disabilities, and low-income families. Opponents also raise concerns about the management of the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio if the department is dissolved.

Legal and political hurdles remain significant. Completely abolishing the department would require congressional approval, and such a measure is expected to face strong resistance from Democrats and some moderate Republicans. Education unions, advocacy groups, and many state officials have already signaled opposition.

The proposal arrives amid broader debates over federal authority, curriculum standards, and school choice policies. It also reflects the administration’s wider push to reduce the size of the federal government and return powers to the states.

Whether the plan becomes law or stalls in Congress, it is likely to dominate education and political discussions in the months ahead, shaping the future of federal involvement in American schools.

Sources: BBC, Reuters