Federal Scene on Education is at a Turning Point

An Overview of Education in Trump’s First 100 Days

The current conditions of federal education policy can be described as an all out attack, with an anti-equity, diversity, and inclusion twist.

As early as February 8th, at least 16 DOGE cyber-saboteurs had begun taking control of the computer systems and data collections of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). In addition, though the bulk of the National Center for Educational Statistics employees have been fired, it is unclear what has happened to much of the data collected over the last 45 years. Numerous on-going study grants have been halted while some have been restarted. It is reported that at least some of the department data has been fed to an AI system.

On March 11, the ED building was closed, and a day later the building was reopened with roughly half the staff allowed to return to work. This reflected a continuation of firings already implemented for employees of under a year and pushes for early retirement. Some departments, such as the Office of Civil Rights were more decimated than others which adds to family fears that their students’ civil rights are at risk, especially when 96% of complaints are for discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, or disability. 

After weeks of threatening to do so, on March 20, 2025, Donald Trump issued an Executive Order to authorize beginning elimination of the federal ED, formalizing an illegal plan to end 45 years of federal support and coordination of education civil rights for U.S students. The recently confirmed Secretary of Education, wrestling maven Linda McMahon, promptly declared her intent to follow the president’s plan. Of course, only Congress has the authority to abolish an agency. 

The Executive Order had two main directives, that:

• The bulk of U.S. ED’s functions and funding be given to state control, and that 

• Any programs “under the label “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology” be eliminated. So far, DEI seems to mean any program that contains any reference related to blacks, immigrants, women, or those with disabilities.

However, in other statements the President also directed two of the largest programs overseen by U.S. ED be relocated to other executive departments. College Student Loan service and management is to be under Kelly Loeffler at the Small Business Administration, and IDEA, the program for students with learning or physical disabilities, is to be managed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services. However, the change would require Congressional approval, and in the meantime, with staffers fired or laid off, families are left without supports.

Given Kennedy’s views on childhood health issues, such as his highly controversial views of autism, vaccines, and nutrition, it can be expected that there will be drastic changes to the policies related to special services and programs for students with conditions such as learning disabilities, autism, and various health or neuro divergent conditions that are legislated by IDEA. 

There has already been a measles outbreak among children in 22 states and two children have died in Texas, and kids are overdosing on Vitamin A which Kennedy has suggested as a treatment. 

Under Trump’s executive order, the bulk of the remaining U.S. ED programs are to be turned into block grants to be given to state governments for administration. However, the mechanics and how much money will be allocated under those grants remains to be seen as details of cuts and tax credits from the budget continuing resolution bill become clearer. State by state, and district by district projections are underway at this time. Disbursements of funds for programs like free and reduced lunches, and teacher training have been fluctuating and are highly unpredictable at this point. The current proposed cuts from ED are listed at $330 billion. Estimates for Virginia losses are approximately $2.4 billion. 

The Push Back

As each element of the disruption plan has been announced stakeholders and watchdog groups have pushed back via action alerts, protests, and court cases. Blue states’ Attorneys Generals have sued for the loss of state funds and illegal processes. Civil rights watchdog groups have filed suits to protect students’ rights, and as soon as the employees were fired, the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers filed lawsuits challenging their dismissals.

It is not known what the final resolution of the suits will be or how the Trump administration’s appeals to the Supreme Court to vacate lower court rulings will end. The high court recently allowed the Trump administration to temporarily revoke funding for teaching training programs, a change that can have far reaching implications in many policy areas. But states and stakeholders are pushing back against rogue procedures and civil rights violations. 

Changes in actual funding are not expected to kick in until the next budget year, but localities and states are trying to establish their budgets at this time, and are doing so without clear guidance about 2026 funding. 

In the most recent Executive Order on April 4, the administration demanded that localities must either change standards, curriculum and policies to conform to the new reductions in students rights within ten days or the state will face withholding of federal funds. States with Republican governors are largely acquiescing to the demands, but in blue states there are challenges to accepting these policies. These are threats that illegally dictate curriculum content.

For military families in DOD schools, the dilemma is similarly confusing, and even more high risk. Conditions system to system reflect potentially drastic variations in rights students may have if this administration’s agenda comes to fruition. 

A Turning Point In History

The U.S. Department of Education was originally established in 1979 to protect the civil rights of students, particularly students of color who were finally seeing integration of schools come about after more than a decade of local and state level massive resistance to integration of public schools. It was also the moment when women were gaining access to higher education and professional schools. The "Education of All Handicapped Children Act" was introduced in 1975, and renamed IDEA in 1990, giving students with disabilities the right to be educated.

The current attempted dissolution of the department comes as the Trump administration is purging not just the U.S. ED, but all government programs and records referencing race, gender, and perceived abilities. By doing so the current administration is also questioning the place in history and achievements of women, differently abled, and non-white Americans. 

The question we all face is whether we will consider education to their highest potential and aspirations a right for all children or will we retrench to only privilege those considered worthy by fair skin, male gender, and certain religious or ethnic heritages? 

We are at another turning point in history as a nation.