Donald Trump just won the election. And during the campaign he made a bold promise: ending the federal Department of Education. It’s a plan some call “dangerous” or “absurd.” But now that he’s on his way to the White House, we should seriously consider why it’s actually the right move. This isn’t just a radical idea — it’s the first step toward real improvement in education.
The Department of Education: A Failing System
A bureaucrat in Washington DC does not know what your child needs.
Since the Department of Education was established in 1980, it has spent billions trying to “fix” American schools. But has it actually improved education for our kids? Take a look at the numbers. Inflation-adjusted spending per student has shot up nearly 190% since 1970, but reading and math scores have barely moved. This federal department has created mountains of rules, regulations, and red tape—none of which actually help students. I agree with Project 2025 when it says, “Federal intervention in education has failed to promote student achievement.”
And it’s not just about the money. Federal mandates in education have increased standardized testing leading to less time spent on social studies and science in elementary schools. Teachers are spending more time on paperwork giving them less time to actually teach. Parents and teachers know what students need better than bureaucrats in Washington, yet the federal government insists on holding the reins.
The Student Loan Crisis: Another Federal Failure
The Department of Education has taken control of the student loan system, and what has the result been? A financial disaster. According to Neal McCluskey, the Department “has essentially run almost the entire student loan industry,” yet it has left students with mountains of debt and taxpayers holding the bill. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently estimated that federal student loans could cost taxpayers nearly $200 billion due to forgiveness programs and other repayment issues. This is the kind of problem you get when the government tries to control an industry.
Letting the private sector manage student loans would mean loans are given based on sound financial judgment—not political agendas.
Education Is Local
Those who support the Department of Education argue that it ensures quality and accountability. But do we really need a federal department to do that? Education was managed locally and by the states long before the federal government got involved, and our schools were often more responsive to local needs.
The Department of Education has turned into a one-size-fits-all, “do as we say” system. As McCluskey puts it, the Department “takes money from taxpayers either today or in the future, hires thousands of people to tie rules and regulations to it…then returns what is left of the money with the rules and regs attached.” This isn’t efficient, and it’s certainly not working for our kids.
Parents are tired of a rigid system that doesn’t adapt to the unique needs of their children. Real accountability comes when families have the freedom to choose the best school for their kids and can “vote with their feet” when a school doesn’t meet their needs. With a country as diverse as the United States we need pluralism in education. Adam Peshek says it this way, “The public is recoiling at the idea of a ‘one best way’ to educate tens-of-millions of students.”
Parent and Local Control
Ending the Department of Education doesn’t mean abandoning public schools or leaving children behind. It means giving states and communities the chance to create schools that actually work for their students. States are already stepping up to support education freedom, and they’re more than capable of continuing this work.
We don’t need bureaucrats in Washington making decisions for our children. Instead, we need local leaders, teachers, and especially parents empowered to decide what works best for their kids.
Education is about student needs, not bureaucratic mandates. Ending the Department of Education gives kids a chance to succeed by putting power back where it belongs – with parents.
Education Policy Analyst
Jon is the Education Policy Analyst at Libertas Institute. He previously taught fifth and sixth grade and served as an elementary principal in Weber School District for 14 years.