Washington (AP) – if Linda McMahon He has been confirmed as Secretary of Education and President Donald Trump He tells her he wants to “get himself out of work.”
The plan under consideration by the White House would direct the Secretary of Education to dismantle the department as much as possible while asking Congress to dismantle the department as much as possible. I’ll completely abolish it. At her confirmation hearing on Thursday, McMahon She has shown that she wants a “better functioning education department” with a more efficient program that could be better implemented by various federal agencies.
Eliminating departments completely is a hassle. McMahon said he believes that action from Congress is necessary. The division has already been cut 900 million dollar contract For offices tracking the progress of school students across the United States.
The main role of an agency is financial. Every year, we distribute billions of dollars with federal funds to universities and schools to manage our federal student loan portfolio. Closing the department means redistribute each of these obligations to another institution. The education sector also plays an important regulatory role in student services. hindrance For low-income and homeless children.
In fact, federal education money is central to Trump’s plans for universities and schools. Trump vowed Cut out federal money Promoting “critical racial theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content,” ending teacher tenure and universally supported states and schools To reward School Selection Program.
Federal funding accounts for a relatively small portion of public school budgets, at around 14%. Universities and universities are more dependent on research grants, along with federal financial aid that helps students pay tuition fees.
Let’s take a look at some of the key features of the department and see how Trump said he might get closer to them.
Student loans and financial aid
The education sector manages approximately $1.5 trillion in student loan debt to more than 40 million borrowers. It also oversees Pell Grant, which provides assistance to students below certain income thresholds, and manages the free application of federal student aid ( Fafsa ), which is used by universities to allocate financial aid.
President Joe Biden’s administration has made student loan cancellation an effort to sign department work. Biden’s first attempt to cancel student loans was It was overturned by the Supreme Court,administration forgive Over $175 billion to more than 4.8 million borrowers through various changes to the programs it manages, including public service loan exemptions.
The loan forgiveness effort faces Republican pushbacks, including lawsuits from several GOP-led states.
I have Trump It was criticized Biden’s efforts to cancel debt as illegal and unfair, calling it a “complete catastrophe” that “unt defeated young people.” Trump’s student debt plans are uncertain. He has not given detailed plans.
Civil Rights Enforcement
Through the Civil Rights Bureau, the education department will provide research and question guidance on how civil rights laws should be applied, including those of LGBTQ+ students and students of color. The office also includes resources, course access, and Discipline For students from a variety of racial and socioeconomic groups.
Trump suggests another interpretation of the civil rights role in the office. Under his administration, the department has directed the office to prioritize complaints. Anti-Semitism Above all, we have launched a survey of university and school sports leagues to allow trans athletes. Join the women’s team.
On his campaign platform, Trump said he would pursue civil rights lawsuits to “stop schools from distinguishing based on race.” He described diversity and equity policies in education as “explicit illegal discrimination,” saying universities that use them will pay fines and tax donations.
He has also promised to exclude Trump. Transgender students From Title IX protection that affects school policies regarding student pronouns, bathroom and locker rooms. Originally passed in 1972, Title IX was first used as a women’s rights law. Last year, the Biden administration said the law would prohibit discrimination based on Gender identity and sexual orientationhowever, federal judges have eliminated their protections.
University accreditation
The education department does not directly accredit the university, but it oversees the system by reviewing all federally accredited accreditation bodies. Institutions of higher education must be accredited to access federal funds for student financial aid.
The certification was vetted by conservatives in 2022. Florida Public University And university. Trump said he would fire the “radical left accreditor” and apply for new accreditors in support of standards such as “advocacy of American traditions” and removal of “Marxist” diversity managers. It’s there.
The Secretary of Education has the authority to terminate relationships with individual accreditation bodies, but it is a difficult process that is rarely pursued. Under President Barack Obama, the department took steps to cancel accreditors of a now-repeated for-profit university chain, but the Trump administration blocked the move. The Group, an accreditation council of independent universities and schools, was terminated in 2022 by the Biden administration.
Money for school
Much of the education sector’s money for K-12 schools has passed large federal programs, including low-income schools and Title I of the Disabled Education Act. These programs support the services of students with disabilities, support the payment of lower class sizes with additional educational positions, and for social workers and other non-educational roles in schools.
During his campaign, Trump called for the state to turn these functions. He does not provide details on how the agency’s core function of sending federal money to local districts and schools is handled.
Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025a drastic proposal outlining the far-right vision for the country provided a blueprint. To initially phase out the funds and send monitoring of programs for children with disabilities and low-income children to the Department of Health and Human Services before converting it into non-string-compliant grants. I proposed it.
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Collin Binkley, education writer for the Associated Press, contributed to this report.
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