The Trump administration‘s ongoing push to dismantle the US Department of Education has raised alarm among advocates for educational equity. Established in 1980, the department was designed to ensure equal access to education, particularly for marginalized students, including those from low-income families, racial minorities, and those with disabilities. With plans to cut its workforce by 50%, including the layoff of 1,300 employees announced on March 10, 2025, the future of its mission is now in question.
As President Trump has suggested eliminating the department entirely, concerns are mounting about how its responsibilities—particularly civil rights enforcement, student loans, and oversight of disability rights—will be handled without a central agency to guide these efforts. Advocates worry that without the department, the federal government will fail to protect vulnerable students, potentially exacerbating educational inequalities across the country.
The loss of a critical safeguard for equity
The US Department of Education, which emerged from the civil rights and anti-poverty movements of the 1960s and 1970s, has long been seen as a “north star” for educational equity. The department’s mission, outlined in its founding act, includes strengthening the federal commitment to ensuring equal educational opportunities for all students. Yet, as reported by the Associated Press, Trump administration officials have suggested that other agencies, such as the Justice Department and Treasury, might take over the department’s responsibilities. However, the fate of its more ambitious goals—like ensuring equal access for disadvantaged students—remains uncertain.
The proposed cuts to the department have raised concerns, especially since states like Mississippi, South Dakota, and Arkansas rely on federal funding for at least 20% of their school budgets, according to government data from the 2021-2022 school year. Advocates argue that sending funds directly to states without oversight could lead to cuts in support for low-income, disabled, and English-learning students. Wil Del Pilar, senior vice president of EdTrust, an education think tank, warned that such a move could “defund public education” by allowing politicians to redirect funds away from schools, as reported by the Associated Press.
The challenge of federal oversight
The department also plays a critical role in defending civil rights within the education system, especially for students facing harassment due to their race, ethnicity, or disability. However, under the Trump administration, its Office for Civil Rights has focused less on these issues, leading some legal experts to suggest that enforcement could be better handled by other agencies, such as the Justice Department. As special education attorney A. Kelly Neal pointed out, the Office for Civil Rights has become “understaffed and too slow to provide relief,” as quoted by the Associated Press.
With the future of federal oversight in doubt, the elimination of the Department of Education may not only result in a loss of protections but also diminish efforts to address the growing educational inequities in the US.
