DateIssued:March 20,2025
Topic:Education
ThisorderinitiatesthedismantlingoftheDepartmentofEducation(ED). TheED,established45yearsagowitha$268billionbudget,is responsibleformanagingeducationdata,overseeingfinancialaid programsdistributingschoolfunding,andensuringcompliancewithcivil rightslawsineducation.
TheorderaimstodismantletheED,whileensuringthatexistingservices andbenefitsremainuninterrupted.
Theorderaimstotransfereducationalauthoritybacktothestatesand localgovernments.
Intheinterim,theorderthreatensfederalfundingforschoolsthatarenot incompliancewithanti-diversity,equity,andinclusion(DEI)policies.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
Toenforcetheorder,theadministrationhasalreadybegunreducingthe ED’sworkforce,withreportsestimatingthatupwardsup1,500peoplehave beenlaidoff.
TheorderdirectstheSecretaryofEducationtotakenecessarystepsto facilitatetheclosureoftheED,whilemaintainingthedeliveryofcurrent services,benefits,andprograms.
TheorderdirectstheSecretaryofEducationtoensurethatthatany “programoractivity”receivingfederalfundsfromtheEDisincompliance withfederallawandhasterminatedanyinitiativesrelatedtoDEIand/or thosethatpromotegenderideology.
Ofimportancetonote,federaldepartmentscanonlybefullydismantled throughactsofCongress.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
ThisorderposessignificantchallengesforBlackstudentsand communitiesastheEDhashistoricallyplayedaroleinenforcingcivil rightslawsandensuringequitableaccesstoeducationalresources.
TheOfficeforCivilRightsattheEDinvestigatescomplaintsof discriminationineducationalinstitutions.ItsdissolutionwouldleaveBlack studentsandotherminoritizedstudentsvulnerabletounchecked discrimination.
TheEDmanagesPellgrants,whichbenefitoverhalfofBlackcollege students.Thedismantlingofthisdepartmentcoulddisruptthedistribution ofthesefundsmakingitharderformanyBlackstudentstoafforda collegeeducation.Additionally,theFreeApplicationforFederalStudent Aid(FAFSA),acriticaltoolfordeterminingeligibilityforfinancialaid,could experiencedelaysorchangesinoversight,limitingaccesstogrants, scholarships,andloansforlow-incomestudents.
TheclosureoftheEDriskswideningeducationaldisparitiesasitcurrently providesresourcesforlow-incomeandspecialeducationstudents, particularlyinunderfundedpublicschoolsservingBlackcommunities. Specialeducationprograms,inparticular,areessentialforBlackstudents withdisabilities.Blackstudentsmakeup17%ofthoseinspecialeducation. Underthisorder,specialeducationprogramsmayfacereducedfunding andoversight,leadingtofewerresourcesandweakenedprotections undertheIndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationAct.Withoutfederal oversight,Blackstudentswithdisabilities,whoalreadyfaceharsher disciplinarypractices,mayexperienceincreasedinequitiesandreduced accesstonecessaryaccommodationsandsupportservices.
TheEDcollectsdataoneducationaloutcomesviatheNationalCenterfor EducationStatistics,informingpoliciesthataddressopportunitygaps. Withoutsuchdata,effortstoimproveeducationaloutcomesforBlack studentswouldbehindered.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
TheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)releasedastatementdenouncing theorder.Additionally,overadozenCBCmembershavespokenout againstthisorderindividually,emphasizingtheimportanceofthe DepartmentofEducationinensuringequitableeducationopportunities forBlackAmericans.SelectstatementsfromindividualCBCMembersare featuredbelow.
Rep.TerriSewell(AL-07),ChairoftheCBCFBoardofTrustees:“It wasn’tenoughforthisadministrationtogoafterourseniors,our healthcare,andourveterans.Now,TrumpandMuskwanttosteal fromAmerica’smostvulnerablechildrentofundtheirtaxcutsforthe wealthy.”FullStatement
Rep.BobbyScott(VA-03),RankingMember,HouseCommitteeon EducationandWorkforce:“AbolishingafederalagencyrequiresanAct ofCongress.PresidentTrump’sexecutiveordertodismantlethe DepartmentofEducation(ED)and‘returneducationtothestates’will bechallengedintheCourts.”FullStatement
Rep.MaxineWaters(CA-43),RankingMemberoftheCommitteeon FinancialServices:“Onceagain,DonaldTrumphasissuedanother recklessandappallingexecutiveorder.Thistime,it’sabolishingtheU.S. DepartmentofEducation.Asanyhighschoolstudentknows,Trump cannotsinglehandedlyabolishtheDepartmentofEducation.This blatantlyunconstitutionalexecutiveorderisjustanotherpieceof evidencethatTrumphasabsolutelynorespectfortheConstitution, whichhetookanoathtopreserve,protect,anddefendwhenhewas sworninaspresident.”FullStatement