Will the Federal Government Gut The Department of Education?

President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the United States Department of Education indicated Thursday that should she be confirmed, major changes to the agency would be implemented.

Linda McMahon told a panel of senators Thursday that the department could not be eliminated without congressional action, but educational responsibilities should return to the states. Senators have not yet voted to confirm McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) who led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first administration.

Her comments echoed that of Trump, who has promised to eliminate the Department of Education and return the responsibilities to the states. To do this, Congress would have to pass a law cutting the department. However, it would likely be difficult for Trump to get enough votes from lawmakers.

Can’t Gut DoE But Its Funding May Be At Risk

In McMahon’s hearing, she agreed that the department could not be shut down without congressional action but said its funding should be analyzed.

“Are there other areas, other agencies where parts of the Department of Education could better serve our students and our parents on the local level?” McMahon said. “I am really all for the President’s mission, which is to return education to the States.”

When asked if she would freeze funds appropriated to the department if Trump directed it, she said: “If Congress has appropriated them, those funds should be disseminated.” She emphasized that while the funds may not be cut, the way they are distributed may change.

Educational institutions are primarily funded and operated by state and local governments. The Department of Education provides additional funding for K-12 programs like Title I and school improvement projects and enforces civil rights laws to prevent discrimination in schools.

Recently, Trump has considered signing an executive order that would reduce the department’s funding until it eventually closes, according to reporting from the Washington Post. The unofficial governmental agency led by Elon Musk, DOGE, has already begun dismantling the Department of Education, cutting spending and staff.

Trump has said that the Department of Education’s funding is too high and claimed the department is “indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material.”

“The Department of Education is a big con job,” Trump said in a conference with reporters Wednesday, reinforcing that responsibilities from the agency should go back to the states.

Last year, the Department of Education spent $268 billion, or about 4% of federal spending, according to the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan analysis group.