Trump Admin Dismantles Education Dept: Key Offices Moved

Trump Administration Unveils Plan to Dismantle Department of Education

In a sweeping move that has ignited fierce controversy and legal challenges, the Trump administration has announced plans to dismantle significant portions of the U.S. Department of Education. The initiative, revealed on November 18, 2025, involves transferring key offices and their functions to other federal agencies, bypassing congressional authority and sparking fears about the future of federal education programs.

The Plan: Transferring Core Functions

Under the new agreements, the Education Department will shift major responsibilities to other agencies in what Secretary Linda McMahon describes as "peeling back the layers of federal bureaucracy." Key offices targeted for relocation include:

• Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (including Title I funding for low-income students) → U.S. Department of Labor
• Office of Postsecondary Education → U.S. Department of Labor
• Office of Indian Education → U.S. Department of the Interior
• International Education and Foreign Language Studies → U.S. Department of State
• Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) → U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

While the Education Department insists it will retain statutory oversight, the actual day-to-day operations will be handled by agencies with no direct expertise in education policy. Each transferred office will keep a small contingent of staff, but critics argue this is insufficient to maintain program integrity.

Legal Firestorm and Opposition

The plan faces immediate legal challenges, as opponents argue the administration is violating the Constitution by moving congressionally-established offices without congressional approval. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) condemned the move as "an outright illegal effort to continue dismantling the Department of Education," warning that "students and families will suffer the consequences as key programs are spun off to agencies with little to no relevant expertise."

Legal experts predict court battles will center on whether retaining nominal oversight satisfies federal law. The plan's architect, Lindsey Burke—a deputy chief of staff who co-authored Project 2025, a conservative blueprint to eliminate the Education Department—has explicitly stated the agency "should be eliminated."

"The federal Department of Education should be eliminated. When power is exercised, it should empower students and families, not government."
— Lindsey Burke, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Programs

Background: A Conservative Agenda in Action

The Education Department was created by Congress in 1979 to ensure equal access to educational opportunity. For decades, conservatives have criticized it as an ineffective bureaucracy. Secretary McMahon's rationale echoes this sentiment, claiming the transfers will "empower states and local leaders" and improve efficiency through "partnerships" with other agencies.

However, the move follows a July 2025 agreement transferring adult education programs to the Labor Department and precedes anticipated actions on special education, civil rights enforcement, and student loans—functions currently protected by ongoing litigation.

What's at Stake for Students and Families?

The dismantling risks fracturing critical support systems:

• Title I Programs: Funding for 25 million low-income students could face mismanagement under Labor Department oversight.
• Native American Education: Programs serving 500,000+ Indigenous students may lose specialized focus when moved to the Interior Department.
• Student-Parent Support: The CCAMPIS childcare program—vital for 200,000+ low-income student-parents—will be relocated to HHS without education-specific expertise.

Proponents argue the changes will reduce bureaucracy, but critics warn of fragmentation, program weakening, and increased inequity for vulnerable populations.

The Road Ahead: Legal Battles and Uncertain Outcomes

As the transfers begin, multiple lawsuits are expected. Courts will determine if the administration's "statutory responsibility" loophole holds legal weight. Meanwhile, House Democrats have voted overwhelmingly to compel release of internal documents related to the dismantling plan.

The fate of the Education Department now hinges on judicial rulings and potential congressional intervention. For students, parents, and educators, the message is clear: the fight for federal education support has entered a critical new phase.