Staff Reports
President Donald Trump has taken a bold step in fulfilling a long-standing conservative goal by signing an executive order to eliminate the federal Department of Education. This move, celebrated by many on the right, is seen as a necessary measure to restore local control over education and address the glaring failures of federal oversight. For decades, the Department of Education has overseen significant spending—approximately $3 trillion—while student outcomes in literacy and math have continued to decline. Conservatives argue that this bloated bureaucracy has done little to improve educational standards and has instead hindered meaningful reform.
The decision to dismantle the Department of Education comes amidst mounting evidence of systemic failures in American schools. Recent national assessments reveal alarming trends: declining reading scores and stagnant math performance among U.S. students. One-third of eighth graders are now scoring below basic levels in reading, unable to perform fundamental tasks like making inferences or understanding simple vocabulary. Critics point out that federal intervention has done little to address these issues, even as billions of taxpayer dollars are funneled into programs that yield minimal results. The pandemic exacerbated these problems, with extended school closures leading to generational learning losses and widening disparities between high- and low-performing students.
Many have long championed the idea that education should be governed at the state and local levels, where communities can tailor solutions to their unique needs. They argue that federal mandates often impose one-size-fits-all policies that fail to account for regional differences. By returning power to states, parents and teachers can regain control over curriculum decisions, funding priorities, and accountability measures. This approach aligns with the principle that those closest to the students—their families and educators—are best equipped to address their educational needs effectively.
The pandemic’s impact on education further underscores the urgency for reform. Teachers’ unions played a controversial role during school closures, advocating for prolonged shutdowns that left millions of students behind academically. Many conservatives view these actions as prioritizing union interests over student welfare, with closures disproportionately affecting disadvantaged children who lacked access to resources for remote learning. The fallout from these closures has been devastating, with students losing months of academic progress and facing long-term consequences for their future earnings and opportunities.
Ultimately, Trump’s executive order reflects a broader conservative vision for education: decentralization, accountability, and empowerment of local communities. While critics decry the move as harmful overreach, supporters believe it is a necessary correction to decades of federal mismanagement. By dismantling the Department of Education, conservatives hope to pave the way for a more effective system—one rooted in local governance and focused on equipping America’s children with the skills they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive world.
