Why Republicans are worried about Trump’s plans to split the Education Department

Republicans largely back President Donald Trump’s push to scale back the Education Department, but some remain skeptical about specific elements of his proposed overhaul, raising concerns over potential gaps in federal oversight of K-12 and higher education funding. While the party broadly aligns with the administration’s goal of reducing bureaucratic influence, lawmakers are weighing whether certain reforms could weaken protections for vulnerable students or disrupt existing programs. The debate highlights tensions between ideological support for deregulation and practical worries about unintended consequences in education policy. Full details on which aspects of the plan are under scrutiny—and how lawmakers plan to address them—are still emerging.

Republicans generally supportive of President Donald Trump’s goal of dismantling the Education Department still have their doubts about key parts of his plans for the agency, with one GOP lawmaker ...