Shutdown proves how much Department of Education is needed, experts say

A top Trump administration official has proposed major changes to the Department of Education, arguing its functions could be absorbed by other agencies, just days after the U.S. Secretary of Education dismissed the department’s role as redundant during the recent government shutdown. The plan would shift key responsibilities—including student aid programs and civil rights enforcement—to state and local governments or other federal departments, raising questions about how such a restructuring would impact education funding and oversight. Critics warn the move could weaken protections for vulnerable students, while supporters say it would streamline bureaucracy and return authority to states. The proposal comes amid ongoing debates over federal education policy and the scope of government involvement in schools.

Days after U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said the government shutdown proved how unnecessary the Department of Education is, the Trump administration announced plans to transition key ...