President Donald Trump announced sweeping changes in federal education policy on Saturday.
According to the Hill, He declared that federal student loan management will move to the Small Business Administration, while programs for students with disabilities will shift to the Department of Health and Human Services.
As part of the strategy, the Trump administration is signaling a significant reduction of the Department of Education's responsibilities. The President's decision to transfer these programs moves toward dismantling the department, an objective the White House has openly discussed. While the current changes avoid the need for congressional approval, they come with the expectation of future legal challenges.
President Trump stated that the federal “student loan portfolio” will be handled by the SBA, currently led by Kelly Loeffler. In the same announcement, he mentioned that Bobby Kennedy would manage programs for “special needs” through HHS. The announcement included an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling non-mandatory programs within the Department of Education.
Legal authorities and education experts have indicated that completely abolishing the Department of Education requires legislative action. However, Trump's administration appears determined to proceed with plans to reduce its scope as much as possible within legal boundaries. The move to transfer the programs has drawn concerns from various advocacy groups.
Advocates for students with disabilities have particularly voiced their disapproval of shifting these programs to HHS. They have concerns about Bobby Kennedy's leadership, especially regarding his controversial views on vaccines. These apprehensions could further fuel the anticipated legal confrontations against the initiative.
The timing of this announcement coincided with the news of a substantial workforce reduction at the SBA, which cast further doubts on the feasibility and preparedness of the agency to manage additional responsibilities. A 40% cut to the SBA’s workforce was communicated alongside the transfer plan.
President Trump expressed optimism about these organizational changes, saying that the two agencies would take over key functions from the Department of Education. The president's words implied confidence in the outcome despite the obstacles posed by legal and practical challenges.
President Trump remarked, “I’ve decided that the SBA, the Small Business Administration, headed by Kelly Loeffler, will handle all of the student loan portfolio. And also, Bobby Kennedy, with the Health and Human Services Department, will be handling special needs and all the nutrition programs and everything else. I think that will work out very well. Those two elements will be taken out of the Department of Education.”
While these changes are substantial, they do not necessarily equate to the complete deconstruction of the Department of Education. The President's efforts appear to concentrate on programs not protected by legislation, but their effects could reach far beyond that scope. This situation leaves room for significant debate and possible future interventions by the judiciary.
The restructuring plan has sparked a discussion on how the student loan system and disability services should be managed. Concerns about the viability of the newly converted systems and the SBC's capacity to substitute the original department's function raise vital questions. Whether this move will indeed streamline operations, as envisaged by Trump, remains a matter of public discourse.
The magnitude of these changes highlights a crucial moment in U.S. educational policy history. The administration's determined approach tests not only the flexibility of existing federal structures but also the boundaries of executive power regarding educational directives.
In summary, President Trump's decision to transfer key educational programs from the Department of Education to the SBA and HHS aims at reducing the former's scope, amidst anticipation of legal backlash and tips to significantly alter the landscape of American educational policy.
