Feb. 21, 2025, 1:17 p.m.

Columns and Opinions

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Trump has called the U.S. Department of Education a "scam" that should be shut down "immediately

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When asked by a reporter in the Oval Office how quickly he would like to close the Department of Education, President Donald Trump replied, "Oh, I would like to close it immediately." Look at the Department of Education, it's a big scam." Trump also said he saw a report showing that the United States spends a lot on education per student, but the United States ranks very low in education standards. The United States ranks 40th in the world in education, but first in "cost per student." He believes that the Ministry of Education has failed to effectively improve the quality of education and has led to high education costs. The Trump administration has begun drafting an executive order to begin the process of eliminating the US Department of Education, according to two people familiar with the matter. The order would direct the education secretary to develop a plan to shrink the department through administrative action. Trump will also push Congress to pass legislation to shut down the department. The media and analysts generally believe that Trump's executive order itself cannot directly shut down the Department of Education, because the Department of Education is an agency created by Congress, and only Congress has the power to abolish it.

While the Trump administration is aggressively pushing for such a plan, it could face significant hurdles in Congress. At the same time, this move and rhetoric of Trump has also had a complex and multi-faceted impact on many aspects. The first is the impact on policy positions, Trump's remarks reflect his consistent "small government" philosophy, that is, to weaken federal power and reduce government intervention in various areas, including education. He argued that devolving education management to the states would allow for greater flexibility and efficiency in meeting local educational needs. Trump has sought to shore up his political base by offering to shut down the Education Department to appeal to voters unhappy with bloated and inefficient government agencies. His comments on closing the education ministry could be seen as part of his pledge to reduce government spending and make government more efficient, helping him garner more support in the election. The elimination of the Department of Education will create a gap in education policy making at the federal level that will need to be filled by other agencies or departments. The Trump administration may develop new education policies through executive orders or other means, but these policies may lack adequate consultation and argument, resulting in opacity and uncertainty in the policymaking process. The Ministry of Education plays an important role in promoting the implementation of education policies. Their elimination can lead to confusion and delays in the implementation of policies, especially for education programs and policies that require cross-sectoral collaboration, and the lack of a unified coordinating body can lead to inefficiencies in implementation.

The second is the impact on the education system, the Ministry of Education will have a profound impact on the entire education system. The education system needs to adapt to the new policy environment and management model, which may take a period of adjustment and adaptation process. The lack of a unified policy guidance and supervision mechanism may lead to confusion and incoordination within the education system. Some educational institutions that rely on federal funding may face funding shortfalls and operational difficulties. Competition among educational institutions has intensified, and some weaker or poorly managed institutions may be weeded out. At the same time, the Ministry of Education's cuts may exacerbate educational inequities. The federal government plays an important role in ensuring equity in education, and its elimination would weaken that role. The increased autonomy of states in the allocation of education resources may also lead to a more uneven distribution of resources, especially for states with weaker economic capacity and low-income families, which may face more problems of inadequate education resources.

Trump's comments slamming the U.S. Department of Education as a "scam" and calling for an "immediate" shutdown, if implemented, would have profound implications for the country's education system and political stability. These effects have both positive and negative aspects, but the negative effects may be more significant overall. Therefore, in assessing the feasibility of this statement and plan, it is necessary to fully consider its possible consequences and impact.

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