EMMA PIRHALA / NEWS EDITOR

On March 20,  President  Donald  Trump   signed  an executive order to begin the shutdown of the Department of Education (DOE). The long-expected order was a major component of Trump’s campaign platform directed at promoting states’ rights. The order provides  the DOE’s Secretary Linda McMahon with the jurisdiction to dismantle the department. The department already faced staff cuts imposed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and it will continue to be dismantled throughout the Trump administration if Congress approves the decision.

Since 1980, the agency has managed federal financial aid and loans. The department also provides programs for students with disabilities and Title I funding to low-income elementary and secondary schools. Trump confirmed that Title I funding and funding for special education will be transferred to other agencies. 

Federal financial aid and the administration of student loans is proposed to be moved to the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA provides support and loans for small businesses.  After an audit by DOGE, the agency is set to cut 40% of their staff. However, administrator  Kelly Loeffler  remained confident that the SBA is prepared to take on the loans, as shared in a post on X. 

“The SBA stands ready to take the  lead  on  restoring    accountability and integrity to America’s student loan portfolio,” Loeffler said. 

 Currently, the Department of Education manages over $1.6 trillion in student loans to make college more  affordable to students. The Trump administration has been adamant that  financial aid  will not change for students in need. But, it is unclear how this will affect students. 

Nearly 80% of Toreros receive some  form  of   financial   assistance. Some  USD  students  are  concerned  about  how the executive order will impact their ability  to receive a college education. 

USD    sophomore     Marco    Garcia Gonzalez shared his concerns. 

“I definitely expected this, especially with the whole Project 2025 thing,” Garcia Gonzalez said. “But we should definitely try to see what we can do how to help students or like how the University can combat this, and try to help out students you, like rely on, like, those federal programs, like Pell Grants and financial aid”

However, the DOE does not create, administer or control curriculum taught in schools. Currently,  states hold the power to create educational standards and curriculum for students. Additionally, the DOE is not the sole funder of public schools. The  majority of funding comes from states and localities. According to the Education Data Initiative, 13.6% of funding to public K-12 education is from the federal government, with the remaining percentage from state and local governments.

Although some may think that the  shutdown  of  the  DOE   is  abrupt, the proposal of shutting down the department is not a novel concept. There has been pushback against the agency since its inception. Many republican politicians have applauded Trump’s move. Texas Governor Greg Abbott jumped on X to share a post about the order.

“At the White House right now. Headed to see President @realdonaldtrump return control of education back to the states — where it belongs,” Abbott said. 

House Democrats have voiced their disdain for the order. Representatives Gerry Connolly and Bobby Scott of Virginia serve as ranking members on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. The representatives sent a letter to McMahon pleading for the reversal of the shutdown.

“Students, teachers, and schools across the country rely on the Department’s important work to ensure that all people are able to access and grow through education, and we have serious doubts the remaining staff at the Department have the capacity to fulfill this mission,” Connolly and Scott wrote. “We urge you to reverse these short-sighted decisions before they cause any more damage to America’s students, families, and educators.”

USD sophomore Katarina Martir shared her initial reaction to the news. 

“ I think  I  am  just  disappointed, not surprised in the sense that it’s not something that I didn’t expect, just something that obviously it is not good news,” Martir said. “Obviously, it is so disappointing, maybe because it has more effect on me than other Trump policies.”

The Trump administration committed to following legal procedures in executing the order. In order to go into effect, Congress will need to pass a bill closing the agency. It is unknown how long it will take for the Department to completely shut down, if approved by Congress.