The Evolution and Impact of Trump's Education Policy

Introduction

The second term of Donald Trump's presidency has brought significant and controversial changes to the landscape of American education. The administration's policies, spearheaded by figures like Education Secretary Linda McMahon, have sparked debate and legal challenges across the spectrum, from K-12 to higher education. This article examines the key aspects of Trump's education policy, its implementation, and its potential long-term consequences.

Dismantling the Department of Education

A Core Republican Goal

A central theme of Trump's education agenda has been the effort to dismantle the Department of Education (ED). This aligns with a long-standing Republican objective, dating back to the department's creation in 1980, to reduce federal oversight and empower state and local control over education.

Executive Orders and Legislative Hurdles

On March 20, 2025, Trump signed an executive order directing the Secretary of Education to "facilitate the closure" of the department. However, fully dismantling ED requires Congressional approval, presenting a significant hurdle. Legal and practical barriers remain, as federal laws mandate ED's role in areas like student aid and civil rights protections. Attempts to defund or abolish the department are likely to face legal challenges.

Transferring Responsibilities

Despite the challenges in completely dismantling ED, the Trump administration has sought to offload its responsibilities to other federal agencies through Interagency Agreements (IAAs). For instance, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken over programs related to school safety, mental health support for students, and community schools. The State Department has also been tasked with supporting the monitoring of foreign funding at colleges and universities.

Potential Consequences

The potential consequences of dismantling or significantly reducing the Department of Education are far-reaching. ED oversees billions of dollars in education funding, manages federal student loans, administers key programs such as special education, and enforces the Clery Act and civil rights laws. Shifting these responsibilities to other agencies or eliminating them altogether could have a profound impact on students, schools, and the overall education system.

Read also: Impact of Trump on Student Debt

Civil Rights and Discrimination

Repurposing Anti-Discrimination Law

The Trump administration has made an unprecedented effort to repurpose federal anti-discrimination law to reverse longstanding efforts to promote equality in public life. Federal laws prohibiting racial and sex-based discrimination are being used to withhold federal funding from schools and colleges, often without thorough investigation.

Targeting Institutions

The administration has targeted institutions for a narrow range of perceived offenses. Colleges that didn't crack down on student protests against the war in Gaza have been punished for "antisemitism," while school districts with transgender-inclusive policies have been denounced for sex-based discrimination against girls. Schools and colleges pursuing racial equity initiatives (e.g., with DEI programs) have been accused of racial discrimination against white and Asian students.

Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

ED's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has historically avoided withholding funds from educational institutions over civil rights violations. However, under the Trump administration, OCR has withheld or threatened to withhold funds from numerous K-12 and higher education institutions based on claims of antisemitism and sexism.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Within the first two weeks of his second term, President Trump issued executive orders ending diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across the government and in schools. The administration's actions on diversity, equity, and inclusion do not overturn the wealth of empirical evidence supporting it. A racially diverse teacher workforce positively affects students now and into the future. Some benefits accrue to white students, too. Students who feel included and respected at schools are more likely to be engaged with their learning-a relationship observed across racial and gender categories. Representative governance is also associated with more equitable school funding allocations and smaller achievement gaps between groups.

Concerns and Criticisms

Critics argue that these actions undermine the principles of equality and inclusion, and that they are based on a narrow and politically motivated interpretation of civil rights law. The administration's approach has faced legal challenges and has been criticized by civil rights organizations and academic institutions.

Read also: The Impact on Education

Higher Education and Universities

Executive Orders on College Education

On April 23, 2025, Trump signed several executive orders related to college education, directing the federal government to "enforce laws on the books" regarding the disclosure of large donations to universities and college accreditation. Trump had referred to college accreditation as his "secret weapon" to exert control over universities.

Foreign Funding and Influence

The Trump administration has focused on monitoring and regulating foreign funding to American colleges and universities. The State Department is assisting the Education Department in managing a new foreign funding reporting portal, which tracks funding from overseas entities since 1986.

Cracking Down on Universities

The Trump administration has sought to crack down on universities accused of antisemitism and those perceived as having a left-wing bias that discriminates against conservative students. Multiple universities have faced investigations, funding pauses, and demands for policy changes.

Demands and Settlements

Some universities have reached settlements with the administration, agreeing to its demands in exchange for restored federal funding. These demands have included suspending or expelling students who participated in pro-Palestinian campus occupations, adopting pro-Israel policies (such as the IHRA definition of antisemitism), paying fines, and enacting changes to admissions policies.

Harvard University

Harvard University has publicly resisted and criticized the Trump administration's demands, filing a lawsuit against them and arguing that the demands were an illegal overreach of government authority. In response, the administration paused over $2 billion in funding for Harvard.

Academic Freedom and University Independence

These actions have raised concerns about academic freedom and the independence of universities. Critics argue that the administration is using its power to exert political influence over academic institutions and stifle dissenting viewpoints.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs

The order seeks to identify up to nine institutions with endowments over $1 billion that it claims violate federal civil rights laws due to DEI policies, a move that appears aimed at pressuring colleges to roll back diversity efforts. Many institutions may feel compelled to “pre-comply” by scaling back DEI programs before the Department of Education issues guidance or begins enforcement actions. However, campuses are encouraged to carefully assess their obligations-legal and otherwise-and mission-driven commitments before making changes.

K-12 Education

Federal Governance in K-12

President Trump has not completely accomplished his K-12 policy agenda at the end of the first year of his second term. Federal governance in K-12 illuminates both the power and the limits of executive direction. Department of Education, redefine federal enforcement of civil rights, dismantle many research programs, and enable parental use of tuition tax credit for choosing schools.

Parental Choice and School Choice

The Trump administration has been a strong advocate for parental choice and school choice initiatives. This includes supporting the use of tuition tax credits for parents who choose to send their children to private schools.

Standards and Accountability

The administration has emphasized the importance of high standards and strong accountability systems in K-12 education. While the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) rightly reiterates that standards are the province of states, the administration has encouraged states to continue assessing and publicly reporting school performance, creating greater transparency around results. It has also supported states' efforts to implement quality assessments, emphasizing college- and career-ready measures that open doors to students' futures.

Curriculum and Content

The Trump administration has sought to influence curriculum and content in K-12 education, particularly in areas such as sex education. In April 2025, the administration demanded that states receiving money for sex education under the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) remove all references to gender identity, transgender and non-binary people from the curriculum.

Immigration and Education

Visa Restrictions and Vetting

The Trump administration has implemented increased visa restrictions and vetting for all visa applicants, including F-1 and J-1 students. This has raised concerns about the impact on international students and scholars studying and working in the United States.

DACA and Undocumented Students

Given Trump’s previous efforts to dismantle DACA, future executive actions are expected targeting the program or those registered under DACA. The administration moved to revoke access to the Head Start subsidized preschool program for undocumented immigrants and their families.

Science and Research

Funding Cuts and Restrictions

The Trump administration's science policy has resulted in the cutting or freezing of large amounts of funding used for research on topics such as climate change, vaccines, LGBTQ topics, and COVID-19. This has raised concerns about the impact on scientific progress and innovation.

Impact on Researchers

In response to Trump's education policy, researchers, scientists, and post-docs are reportedly leaving or trying to leave the United States. A poll done by scientific journal Nature, 75% of US scientists are considering leaving. In May 2025, Marci Shore, Timothy Snyder and Jason Stanley, academics who specialize in studying authoritarianism across the globe, announced they are leaving the United States in response to Trump's crackdown of higher education.

The Role of Linda McMahon

Education Secretary

President Donald Trump appointed Linda McMahon, a co-founder and former CEO of WWE, to be the United States secretary of education. Senate by a vote of 51-45 on March 3, 2025.

Facilitating the Closure of the Department of Education

Trump said that McMahon's primary objective as education secretary would be to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.

Potential Long-Term Consequences

Impact on Students

The long-term consequences of Trump's education policy on students are a major concern. Changes to civil rights enforcement, funding for education programs, and access to higher education could disproportionately affect marginalized and underrepresented students.

Impact on Institutions

Colleges and universities may need to adapt to a changing regulatory landscape and evolving expectations from the federal government. Institutions may need to carefully assess their obligations and mission-driven commitments before making changes.

Impact on the Education System

The cumulative effect of these policies could reshape the American education system for years to come. It remains to be seen whether these changes will lead to improved outcomes for students and greater equity in education.

Global Economic Competitiveness

In June 2025, hundreds of American CEOs criticized Trump's attacks on universities through an open letter organized by the Leadership Now Project, saying funding cuts and student visa restrictions impact America's economic competitiveness.

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