A former president’s push to dismantle the US Department of Education gained unexpected momentum in his final months in office, with sweeping administrative changes that reshaped federal education policy. Officials moved to eliminate key programs, consolidate oversight, and streamline funding—actions that critics warned could weaken protections for vulnerable students and local school districts. The rapid overhaul raised concerns about long-term consequences for public education, even as supporters framed it as a return to state-level control. Whether the changes will outlast the administration remains an open question as the department faces an uncertain future.
In the early days of President Donald Trump’s second term, he made a blunt promise about the US Department of Education: “We’re going to shut it down as quickly as possible.” In a matter of months, 40 ...
