Trump’s bid to uproot the Department of Education: Academic reform or constitutional overreach?

President Donald Trump is once again wielding his power of signature and rattling the political establishment, setting his sights on the Department of Education (ED). A recent executive draft, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, contains instructions for newly appointed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to uproot the very department she now leads. The gutting of the agency, a long-cherished utopia of conservatives, is on the verge of becoming reality. While Trump cannot outright upend the Department—only Congress holds that authority—he can weaken it by slashing staff, shifting responsibilities, and curbing its influence.
As the Education Department teeters on the brink of extinction, a pressing question arises: Is Trump’s move an attempt to reform education, or do its implications extend beyond its intended boundaries?

Since its establishment in 1979 under the 39th U.S. President, Jimmy Carter, the Department of Education has remained a contentious institution, frequently caught in the crossfire of ideological battles. Conservatives have long labeled it an overreach of federal power, arguing that education should be managed at the state and local levels. The 40th U.S. President, Ronald Reagan, campaigned on abolishing it, and GOP platforms in the 1990s and early 2000s echoed similar calls.
Now, Trump has reignited the debate, transforming a long-standing conservative demand into a central pillar of his political agenda. Will he be able to succeed, or Congress will nip it in the bud?
Trump has framed his crusade as a necessary purge of federal overreach. In his view, the ED is a bloated bureaucracy pushing “woke” policies that undermine traditional American values. His administration has already frozen research grants, leaving universities scrambling for funds, while massive layoffs and administrative restructuring have sent shockwaves through the department. Another round of staff reductions looms large on the horizon, signaling that Trump has no intention of easing his grip.
Critics argue that Trump’s attack on the Education Department will deal a severe blow to vulnerable students. The department enforces civil rights protections, funds special education programmes, and oversees financial aid for millions of college students. While Trump’s team insists that crucial funding—such as Pell Grants and Title I aid for low-income schools—will remain untouched, skeptics warn that his piecemeal dismantling of federal oversight could create chaos, leaving schools and students to fend for themselves.

Donald Trump’s push to dismantle the Department of Education has ignited fierce debate, but does he actually have the legal authority to do so? While executive power grants him significant influence, the Constitution places clear limits on a president’s ability to unilaterally alter federal agencies. With Congress holding the ultimate authority over the department’s fate, Trump’s strategy hinges on whether he can bypass legislative roadblocks and erode its influence from within.
Congressional barriers to dismantling the Education Department
The Constitution rules are starkly clear: Congress, not the President creates and erases federal agencies. The Department of Education was formulated through legislation, meaning Trump cannot simply pull the plug. Any attempt to dismantle it would require congressional approval—an uphill battle, given the political landscape.
Executive orders vs. legislative authority
While Trump can wield executive orders to kneecap the Education Department’s influence, his power has limits. Many of the department’s key functions—such as funding allocations and civil rights enforcement—are enshrined in law, meaning any significant restructuring would require legislative backing.

For all his bombastic rhetoric, Trump may be playing a long game. Rather than waging an immediate legal war, he appears to be chipping away at the Education Department’s foundation—weakening its infrastructure until it collapses under its own weight. His strategy echoes his broader philosophy: dismantle from within rather than confront head-on.

If Trump takes his fight to the courts, the Supreme Court could play a pivotal role in determining the department's fate. A ruling on the federal government’s role in education could have far-reaching consequences, reshaping policies for decades to come.

Education policy is largely controlled at the state and local levels, but the federal government provides essential funding and oversight. The ongoing tug-of-war over Washington’s influence in education is not just a policy debate—it’s a constitutional question that strikes at the heart of federalism.

To Trump’s supporters, his crusade against the Education Department is a long-overdue correction—an effort to unshackle states and local school boards from federal intrusion. To his critics, it’s a reckless gamble that risks dismantling vital protections and funding mechanisms. The fate of the Department of Education hangs in the balance. One thing is certain: this is more than just another policy dispute. It’s a high-stakes battle over power, ideology, and the very structure of American education.