Senator Elizabeth Warren has called for Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s resignation due to her efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. Warren argued that McMahon’s actions, including mass layoffs and the transfer of key functions to other agencies, will negatively impact families and schools. Under the proposed plan, programs like Title I would be managed by the Department of Labor, potentially affecting funding for K-12 schools. This call for resignation followed legal action from a coalition of labor unions and educators who claim the administration’s actions violate the Constitution and harm students.
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Under President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the Department of Education is implementing changes to student loan reimbursement, with the “Repayment Assistance Plan” (RAP) replacing previous programs. A key factor in determining reimbursement is whether a degree is considered “professional,” leading to concern as several degrees, including nursing, are excluded from the list. This reclassification could significantly impact students pursuing these degrees, as they may receive less financial aid, potentially deterring them from entering high-demand professions and possibly exacerbating workforce shortages. Various stakeholders are criticizing the exclusion of these professions, arguing it contradicts the traditional understanding of “professional” and could have detrimental effects on public health and other critical sectors.
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In a recent ruling, a federal judge found the Department of Education infringed upon the First Amendment rights of its employees. The judge, an appointee of former President Obama, determined that the department unconstitutionally compelled employees’ speech. The ruling stemmed from the Department’s use of out-of-office messages, which included partisan language blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. Consequently, the court barred the administration from altering these messages to include partisan speech for union members.
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Education Secretary Linda McMahon suggested the federal government shutdown highlights the potential dispensability of her agency. This comment came after the Education Department initiated layoffs impacting offices crucial for special education and civil rights. McMahon noted that despite the shutdown, schools continue to function with teachers receiving pay and students attending classes as usual. The Secretary’s remarks indicate a critical perspective on the necessity and efficiency of the department.
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The Department of Education eliminated the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in a wave of layoffs, impacting nearly all staff administering federal funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The union representing the agency’s employees stated that these firings harm K-12 students and schools. These terminations are part of the Trump administration’s strategy to pressure congressional Democrats to end the ongoing government shutdown, with over 460 Education Department employees laid off. The Education Secretary has suggested that oversight of IDEA funding could be better positioned in the Department of Health and Human Services, though it would require an act of Congress.
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On the first day of the US government shutdown, employees at the Department of Education (DOE) discovered their automatic out-of-office email responses had been altered to include partisan language, blaming Senate Democrats for the shutdown. This change was made without employee consent, with some employees attempting to revert to neutral language only to have it changed back. The DOE’s human resources had originally provided employees with neutral out-of-office language, as did the Small Business Administration and, according to sources and screenshots reviewed by WIRED, the Department of Labor. The altered message explicitly placed blame on Senate Democrats.
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President Trump signed an executive order initiating the dismantling of the Department of Education, though full abolishment requires Congressional approval. While the White House claims critical functions like student loan oversight will continue, the order directs significant downsizing, prompting immediate legislative action from Senator Cassidy. Opponents, including Democrats and several advocacy groups, strongly criticized the move, citing potential harm to vulnerable student populations and unconstitutionality. Public polling reveals widespread opposition to eliminating the department.
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President Trump plans to sign an executive order dissolving the Department of Education, fulfilling a campaign promise and a long-held conservative goal. While the order directs the Secretary to facilitate closure and return authority to states, Congress’s creation of the department in 1979 makes complete dismantling unlikely without further legislative action. The department’s significant role in managing billions of dollars in school funding and student loans raises concerns about the impact on students and institutions. Opposition exists, with advocates arguing the move would harm vulnerable students and exacerbate educational inequality.
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Twenty state attorneys general and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration for dismantling the Department of Education, citing the termination of over 1,300 employees. The lawsuit argues that the administration’s actions, effectively starving the agency of resources, constitute an illegal circumvention of Congress’s power to abolish executive agencies. The defendants include President Trump, Secretary McMahon, and the Department itself. The administration counters that returning education authority to the states was part of the president’s mandate, while simultaneously asserting that the dismantling is proceeding rapidly.
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John Q. Hosedrinker