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 core functions could be absorbed by other agencies, just days after the U.S. Secretary of Education dismissed the department as redundant amid the ongoing government shutdown. The plan would shift key responsibilities—including student aid programs and civil rights enforcement—to state and local governments or other federal agencies, marking a significant restructuring of education policy. Critics warn the move could weaken oversight of schools and access to federal funding for millions of students, while supporters say it would streamline bureaucracy and return authority to states. The proposal comes as the shutdown highlights broader debates over federal spending and the role of Washington in 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 ...