March 5, 2025
In the latest move to overhaul the federal government, The new administration has doubled down on their commitment to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), a campaign promise first made in 2016 and has reignited with fervor in the current term.
However, unlike sweeping executive orders on immigration and environmental regulations, shuttering a Cabinet-level department is not a power the president wields alone. Despite claims that the DOE will soon be “out of business,” eliminating the agency without congressional approval remains a legal impossibility, however, dismantling the Department is already underway.
The question of the day is, what happens to the billions in federal education funding—money that supports schools, students with disabilities, and low-income communities across the country. With no clear successor to oversee the allocation of federal education dollars, states and local districts could face an unprecedented funding crisis, one that threatens to upend the education system for the most vulnerable students.
A $200 Billion Question: Who Really Benefits From Federal Education Funding?
The DOE oversees the distribution of approximately $200 billion in federal education funding, much of it funneled to states through programs like Title I, which supports low-income schools, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which ensures special education services. Other crucial programs include federal Pell Grants for college students, school meal programs, and funding for rural and tribal education initiatives.
While critics of the DOE argue that education policy should be left entirely to states, financial realities tell a different story. Rural and economically disadvantaged areas, particularly in red states, are among the largest beneficiaries of federal education dollars. In Kansas alone, federal funding accounts for roughly $1.1 billion annually, covering services from free lunches to classroom technology in underfunded districts.
Should the DOE be abolished, states like Kansas, which rely on federal aid to prop up struggling schools, would be left scrambling for solutions. The state would have to either raise taxes, cut education spending, or find alternative funding sources to maintain current levels of support. The hardest-hit populations? Low-income students in urban districts and rural communities where local tax bases are insufficient to replace lost federal aid.
“Without federal funding, the education gap between wealthy and poor districts would widen drastically,” said Dr. Michael Langley, an education policy expert at the Brookings Institution. “The schools that can least afford the loss are the ones that will suffer the most.”
Who Would Administer Federal Education Funds?
Abolishing the DOE without an immediate replacement plan leaves an administrative vacuum. Federal education funds don’t distribute themselves, and no existing federal agency currently has the infrastructure to absorb the department’s responsibilities overnight.
One proposal from conservative lawmakers suggests reallocating education funding oversight to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, treating school aid much like state grants for transportation or public health. Others have floated the idea of distributing education block grants to states, allowing governors to determine spending priorities without federal oversight.
However, implementing such a shift requires Congress to act—a tall order given the current political divide. Lawmakers would need to draft and pass legislation detailing exactly how federal education dollars should be handled, a process that could take months, if not years. During that time, schools could face severe funding gaps, jeopardizing teacher salaries, student services, and college financial aid programs.
Congressional Gridlock: A Looming Threat to Schools
For Trump’s plan to become reality, Congress would have to pass legislation officially eliminating the DOE and transferring its functions elsewhere. The Republican-controlled House has already introduced H.R. 899, a bill to abolish the DOE, but it lacks a clear roadmap for redistributing its responsibilities. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats and even some moderate Republicans have voiced concerns about the financial fallout, making passage unlikely without bipartisan compromise.
If Congress fails to act swiftly, schools could face an administrative nightmare. State education departments, already stretched thin, would be forced to manage federal funds without guidance, leading to potential delays or misallocations. Pell Grants and federal student loans could become collateral damage in the legislative standoff, leaving students uncertain about their ability to afford higher education.
“It’s not just about dismantling a department,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a leading critic of the proposal. “It’s about ripping the foundation out from under millions of students who rely on these funds every single day.”
A High-Stakes Gamble With America’s Schools
Despite Trump’s confidence in his ability to eliminate the DOE, the reality is far more complex. The department’s fate ultimately rests in the hands of Congress, where political gridlock threatens to stall any resolution for months, if not longer. Meanwhile, millions of students, teachers, and administrators remain in limbo, unsure of how—or if—federal funding will continue to flow.
As the debate over the DOE’s future unfolds, the stakes are clear: A rushed dismantling without a clear financial plan could leave America’s most vulnerable students paying the price.
