Significant changes are underway for the US Department of Education.
According to the Daily Caller, President Donald Trump has started transferring key functions from the Department of Education to other federal agencies as part of a plan to decentralize education oversight.
On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order that sets the stage for reducing the federal role in education. The immediate effects include the Small Business Administration (SBA) assuming control of student loan services and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) taking over programs for special needs and nutrition.
The transformation initiated by the executive order aims to empower states, local governments, and parents by shifting authority away from the federal level. Linda McMahon, the newly appointed Education Secretary, is leading the effort to dismantle the Department of Education.
This move is motivated by a report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress in January, which indicated a concerning drop in student performance nationwide.
The restructuring reflects President Trump's broader educational policies which, since his inauguration, have included measures against certain educational theories and practices in federally-funded schools. His administration stopped the promotion of critical race theory, diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and gender ideology.
President Trump believes the realignment will have significant benefits. "I think that will work out very well. Those two elements will be taken out of the Department of Education," he stated regarding the changes.
The HHS's new responsibilities include supporting special needs individuals and managing public nutrition programs. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressed strong support for the shifts.
As Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., HHS Secretary, announced, "We are committed to ensuring every American has access to the resources they need to thrive. We will make the care of our most vulnerable citizens our highest national priority. Together, we will Make America Healthy Again."
These initiatives have sparked discussions among educational experts and the public. While the aim is to decentralize and improve efficiency, many are cautious about the rapid changes and their implementation.
The reallocation of responsibilities has raised questions about the capacity of the SBA and HHS to effectively assume these new roles, previously managed by specialized agencies.
President Trump emphasized the importance of family in education: "All we have to do is get the students to get guidance from the people that love them and cherish them, including their parents," he said. This statement underscores the administration's push towards more localized and parentally involved education systems.
Despite the foundational shift, both the White House and the involved federal agencies have yet to formally respond to queries on the detailed implications of the executive orders.
To summarize, with Linda McMahon's guidance, the responsibilities of the Department of Education are being distributed among various federal agencies as part of a wider push to decentralize educational oversight and enhance local involvement. The focus now turns to the effective implementation of these changes and their long-term impact on American education.
