On March 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating United States Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to start dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, aiming to transfer its functions to state and local authorities.

This move has sparked discussions about the future of federal oversight in education and its potential effects on states and universities.

What does the executive order do?

The executive order instructs the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education. It emphasizes reallocating the department’s functions to states, local communities and other federal agencies to ensure the continued delivery of educational services.

The executive order, titled “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities,” directs McMahon to initiate the process of dismantling the Department of Education. It cites the nation’s “historically low” reading and math scores as the reason for this action.

“Closing the Department of Education would provide children and their families the opportunity to escape a system that is failing them,” the order reads.

This is not the first time during this term that Trump has attacked the Department of Education. On March 11, the department announced it fired more than 1,300 workers — about half the size of the 4,133-employee department.

If the department is completely dissolved, some of its responsibilities will be distributed among other federal departments. For example, Trump announced that the Small Business Administration will handle student loans.

The executive order only applies to the federal Department of Education and will not affect the Mississippi Department of Education.

Does the president have the power to shut down the Department of Education?

No. While the president can issue executive orders and propose legislation, abolishing a federal department requires congressional approval.

The Department of Education was established by Congress in 1979, while Jimmy Carter was president. Because Congress created the department, action from Congress is required to officially dissolve it. Even though the executive order is pushing for the DOE’s closure, the president would need bipartisan support to pass such a measure.

Nonetheless, some representatives are attempting to dismantle the department from within Congress.

At the end of January, Congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, introduced a one-sentence bill mandating that it would terminate the Department of Education by the end of 2026.

Also in January, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, a Democrat from Connecticut, introduced the “Department of Education Protection Act,” which seeks to prevent any departmental reorganization that will decentralize the department or reduce its staffing levels.

What does the Department of Education do?

The Department of Education is responsible for collecting data on schools, distributing federal education funds and overseeing national education policy. It tracks student performance through programs like the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” and compiles higher education data through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

The department also houses the Federal Student Aid office, which administers aid such as Pell Grants, work-study funds and student loans. It processes millions of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications yearly and manages over $1.6 trillion in student loan debt.

Additionally, the department enforces federal education laws through its Office for Civil Rights, ensuring institutions comply with regulations like Title IX. While states and local governments fund most public education, the department provides supplementary funding, particularly for low-income schools and special education programs.

Why is Trump opposed to the Department of Education?

Trump has been a long-time critic of the Department of Education for what he sees as government overreach and inefficiency. He has also argued that the agency promotes “woke ideology” in schools, particularly through diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

Opposition to DEI policies gained momentum after the Supreme Court overturned race-based affirmative action in college admissions in 2023. Since then, Republican leaders and advocacy groups have pushed to remove DEI initiatives from universities and other institutions.

Trump has echoed these concerns, stating that schools should focus on core academics rather than political or ideological teachings. On the campaign trail as early as 2023, he pledged to eliminate DEI-related positions in higher education and shift education policy control to the states.

What does this mean for Mississippi education?

Jackson’s The Clarion-Ledger reported that dissolving the Department of Education could lead to states taking on a larger financial burden, “which in turn could mean higher taxes for Mississippi residents.”

What does this mean for MSU?

MSU, like other public universities, relies on federal student aid programs such as Pell Grants and federal loans. The potential elimination of the Department of Education raises concerns about the administration of these aid programs, which could affect student access to financial support.

Additionally, research grants and other federally funded initiatives at MSU might face changes depending on how federal educational responsibilities are restructured to other departments.

Last month, the DOE instructed public institutions and universities nationwide to eliminate DEI policies within all policies and practices or lose federal funding. Since then, Mississippi State University has scrubbed language relating to DEI from university websites. For example, MSU’s Division of Access, Opportunity and Success completely wiped an “Inclusive Statement” from their home page.

“We reject prejudice and discrimination and strongly believe that an inclusive campus environment contributes to critical thinking, intellectual engagement, and growth,” the statement read before it disappeared. “Our commitment to diversity is a responsibility shared by every member of the MSU community.”

Additionally, pending the approval of the State Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning, MSU restructured and changed the name of the “Holmes Cultural Diversity Center” to the “Holmes Center for Student Success.”