A Year of Destruction: What We Can Expect from the Trump Presidency and What We Should Do About It (Pt. 3 - Education)
Article by Liliana Zavin
As the second Trump Administration is now underway, the destruction that it plans to unleash becomes more imminent. In this series of articles, I hope to provide some clarity on the plans that Trump has going into office, how he takes action on them throughout his first year, and the steps that America’s youth can take to protect our families, communities, and to continue the fight for justice.
Within the first few days of his second term, President Trump announced his plans to demolish the Department of Education. Appointing Linda McMahon, chairwoman of the WWE, to lead the Department, he entered office ready to abolish the Department. He had previously indicated these plans in conversations with Elon Musk over X and Project 2025, the blueprint where many of Trump’s campaign goals have been drawn from, recommends that the Department be cut. The demolition of the Department of Education will have far-reaching effects on public school systems and the families they serve, as well as higher education institutions, many of which rely on federal funding for the implementation and maintenance of programs and research. While public education programs are run by state and local governments, the decisions of the federal government ultimately dictate how and if they function. In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled on Brown v. Board of Education, determining that school segregation on the basis of race was unconstitutional. As a result of this decision, the Supreme Court and Department of Education mandated that all schools must integrate, with this supreme order applicable to both private and public schools across the country. The Department of Education’s in Brown v. Board of Education demonstrates the power that it holds today, the ability to dictate the abilities of school systems through prosecuting and pulling funding from institutions that do not comply with its demands.
Under President Biden, the Department of Education streamlined its public loan forgiveness program to give those who work for national, state, or local government positions, who serve the US in Americorps or Peace Corps services, or who work for nonprofits can have their student loan debt paid off. It also worked to support students from underprivileged backgrounds to achieve the same success as those with more resources. Now the progress made, both during the Biden-Harris administration and in the years prior, threatens to be destroyed with the sign of a pen. While President Trump does not have the authority to abolish the Department of Education without Congressional approval, efforts have already been underway in cutting staff, grant programs, and funding that supports students and teachers across the country. The Trump Administration’s cuts to the Department of Education will mainly impact two distinct areas of education: Public Schools and those they serve and Higher Education.
Public School Systems
The Department of Education was established in 1980 to ensure that all students have equal opportunity and access to education. While public school systems are managed by state agencies, the Department of Education has held an integral role in standardizing policy and in ensuring that schools follow Civil Rights protections for all students. President Trump has echoed a Republican talking point around school choice, demeaning the integrity and authority of public school systems by refusing to invest in them and instead investing in families who want to send their children to private schools. In an executive order published on January 29th, President Trump asserted his plans to “expand educational freedom and opportunity for families” through K-12 choice initiatives and the implementation of discretionary grant programs. Rather than investing in public education systems, where nearly 50 million American students are enrolled, he instead has worked to divert families away from public education and instead to privately owned schools, ignoring the issues and needs facing American public schools. The Trump administration’s actions will most impact vulnerable student populations, including students with disabilities, who are protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Titles IX and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, and sex, all protections which the Department of Education is responsible for guaranteeing to all students. All staff in seven out of twelve Education Department Civil Rights Offices have been terminated, leaving students without any form of protection or support in cases of discrimination and injustice. Without the Department of Education to enforce the protections guaranteed through these acts, the rights of public school students are at risk.
Higher Education
Since its establishment, college and university systems in the United States have relied on the Department of Education for essential funding and students have benefited greatly from grants and loan support in financing higher education. President Trump’s slow demolition of the Department of Education will likely bring the end to essential programs supporting students in accessing and financing higher education, including federal Pell Grants and Public Student Loan Forgiveness programs. He has also launched attacks against universities where students have been active in protesting the war in Gaza. Most notably, the administration withdrew $400 million in funding from Columbia University, where student protests made headlines throughout the spring and fall of 2024, arguing that the University was allowing antisemitism on campus. Along with funding cuts, Columbia University was also given a list of demands from the Trump Administration, including the hiring of a new special police force, adoption of a formal definition of antisemitism, and abolition of its Middle Eastern Studies department. Fearful of further action and cuts by the Trump administration, the University complied with all demands. However, shortly after implementing these measures Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, resigned, speaking to the tumultuous moment and struggles of higher education in the United States today. In early March, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights also sent letters to 60 universities, including Columbia, that are currently being investigated for antisemitism and DEI programs, which the Trump Administration deems systems of “racial preferencing.” With cuts to their funding and their reputations on the line, colleges and universities in the United States are at a difficult crossroads. While some have been outspoken about their refusal to concede to the demands of the Trump administration, the majority of university administrations have remained silent. At a time when the American public most needs clarity and transparency, colleges and universities have been unwilling and unable to step into this role, leaving questions as to the future of higher education in the United States.
What can you do to take action?
1. Speak out about students’ rights and the importance of protecting public education systems!
Reach out to your local school board, college/university administration, and individual leaders about the importance of protecting students’ rights and preserving programs that support students from many backgrounds and beliefs and that celebrate diversity. Send letters, call, or lobby your local, state, and federal representatives about the importance of protecting public school systems and the students they serve.
2. Advocate for free speech on college campuses and continue the fight for justice!
Now is not the time to give up - colleges and universities have long been places of peaceful discourse, where movements for change begin and spread. Participate in local and state protests advocating for the right of students to protest and urging school administrations to support the rights of students as they engage in peaceful gatherings.
3. Youth voices matter - share yours in all the ways you can!
On all issues youth voices are important and valuable, but on education, which intimately affects and determines the futures of American youth, they are especially important. Never be afraid to share your opinion and to speak out for what you believe is right. Use platforms available to you - social media, school newspapers, student council positions, etc. - to speak out about the importance of taking action to promote equality and justice for all Americans and urge your peers to do the same.