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 as redundant during the recent government shutdown. The plan would shift key responsibilities, including student aid programs and civil rights enforcement, to other federal departments, raising questions about how such a restructuring would impact students, educators, and oversight of America’s education system. Critics have already warned that the move could weaken accountability and access to federal funding for schools and borrowers. The administration’s proposal comes amid ongoing debates over federal education policy and the role of Washington in K-12 and higher education.

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 ...