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The Potential Abolition of the Department of Education: A Step Backward

A Historical and Modern-Day Analysis

Published February 14 2025

Analysis by Sua Jo


Recent discussions about the potential abolition of the Department of Education have garnered attention from political and educational circles advocating for more localized control over schooling (1). While the proposal is presented as a way to give states and parents more power, dismantling this federal agency could come at significant costs to education in the United States. The potential impacts include increased school censorship, threats to educational equity, and limited access to federal financial aid.


Established in 1979, the Department of Education was designed to promote educational quality and ensure equal access to students nationwide. One of its main responsibilities is to enforce civil rights laws that protect students from discrimination and ensure schools are accountable for fair practices. Additionally, the department provides guidance on curricula, fosters educational research, and helps set nationwide standards supporting comprehensive and inclusive education (2). The presence of this department serves as a safeguard to ensure that students across all states receive an education that prepares them for a diverse and interconnected world.


The potential abolition of the Department of Education raises alarms regarding increased school censorship. Though schools are allowed to remove content from their curricula if deemed disruptive, there has been a surge of content being removed on topics such as sexism, racism, sex education, evolution, and LGBTQ+ issues. Politicians and independent citizens are arguing these subjects are “divisive,” alleging that the materials were sexually explicit, anti-family, or “promoted homosexuality.”(3) The Department of Education plays a critical role in protecting students’ rights and ensuring schools do not suppress educational content based on these biases. Without federal oversight, more states could expand these restrictions, further narrowing the scope of what students are allowed to learn. School censorship risks creating a generation of students who lack a well-rounded understanding of both history and contemporary issues, hindering their ability to critically engage with the world around them.


The current wave of book bans is a striking example of how school censorship has already begun to affect educational content. According to PEN America, more than 2,500 books were banned during the 2021-22 school year and increased to more than 10,000 books by the 2023-24 school year (4). Works such as To Kill A Mockingbird, The Handmaid's Tale, The Hate U Give, The Diary of Anne Frank, 1984, and Fahrenheit 451 have either been banned or challenged for their discussions of race, historical atrocities, and social justice (5). Banning these texts deprives students of literature that would promote empathy, foster critical thinking, and encourage an understanding of complex social issues. For instance, The Diary of Anne Frank provides first-hand insight into the Holocaust, while The Hate U Give offers perspectives on modern-day racial tensions and police brutality. Without the department’s support for inclusive curricula, schools may increasingly limit access to these essential resources.


Another significant concern is educational equity, meaning all students should have equal access to high-quality education, a diverse student body, and a safe learning environment that will enrich their educational experiences (6). Historically marginalized communities rely on federal oversight to ensure fair access to education and this department helps enforce civil rights laws protecting students from discrimination based on race, gender, and disability. Without the Department of Education, states could set vastly different standards, potentially leaving students in poorer or politically conservative areas at a disadvantage. Without centralized regulations, special education services and programs directed at reducing educational disparities could also become inconsistent, deepening the gap between affluent and underrepresented communities. The Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. The Board of Education emphasized education “is the very foundation of good citizenship,” underscoring the necessity of a system upholding equal opportunity (7).


Educational equity extends beyond curriculum content and into the financial realm, where the Department of Education plays a vital role through its administration of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA opens the door for millions of students, who demonstrate a need for financial aid, to access federal grants, loans, and work-study programs, providing over $120 billion annually (8). The management of federal aid could become fragmented without the department, potentially leading to inequitable access. For many first-generation, underrepresented, and low-income students, FAFSA represents the only viable path to higher education. The absence of this standardized federal system could make financial aid less accessible and transparent, raising the risk of discriminatory practices and limiting opportunities for students who need assistance the most.


Advocates for abolishing the Department of Education argue that shifting control to states and parents would allow for curricula reflecting local values and needs. They claim it could cut down on bureaucracy and allow for more personalized curricula, but this argument overlooks the issues of having a decentralized education system, such as increased disparities in educational quality and the rise of curricula shaped by regional biases rather than balanced educational standards. The reality is that without this department, students’ educational experiences will vary dramatically, widening the gap between states that prioritize a comprehensive education and those that do not.


The potential abolition of the Department of Education poses far-reaching consequences for the American education system as we would risk reversing decades of progress made to this day. Increased school censorship, more widespread book bans, compromised educational equity, and disruptions in federal financial aid are just a few of the potential outcomes. Though proponents argue for the benefits of local control, they often overlook the critical role that the department plays in creating an inclusive and balanced education system. Preserving the Department of Education is essential to maintaining educational standards that support students' rights and prepare future generations for an informed, equitable society.


  1.  Lobosco, Katie. “Trump Wants to Shut down the Department of Education. Here’s What That Could Mean | CNN Politics.” CNN, September 20, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/20/politics/department-of-education-shut-down-trump/index.html. 

  2.  “An Overview of the Department of Education.” U.S. Department of Education. Accessed November 10, 2024. https://www.ed.gov/about/ed-overview. 

  3.  Southall, Alexa. “Censorship Is Ruining America’s Education.” YIP Institute, September 27, 2022. https://yipinstitute.org/capstone/censorship-is-ruining-americas-education. 

  4.  “Banned in the USA: Beyond the Shelves.” PEN America, November 1, 2024. https://pen.org/report/beyond-the-shelves/. .

  5.  Leadingham, Scott A. “15 of the Most Famous Banned Books in US History.” Freedom Forum, October 24, 2024. https://www.freedomforum.org/famous-banned-books/. .

  6.  ACLU. “Why Access to Education Is Key to Systemic Equality: ACLU.” American Civil Liberties Union, October 12, 2023. https://www.aclu.org/news/racial-justice/why-access-to-education-is-key-to-systemic-equality. 

  7.  “Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954).” Justia Law. Accessed November 10, 2024. https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/347/483/#tab-opinion-1940809. 

  8.  Stanek, Becca. “How Much Money Will Fafsa Give Me? [2024].” Credible, April 9, 2024. https://www.credible.com/student-loans/fafsa-how-much. 

  9.  Lobosco, Katie. “Trump Wants to Shut down the Department of Education. Here’s What That Could Mean | CNN Politics.” CNN, September 20, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/20/politics/department-of-education-shut-down-trump/index.html. .

 


 
 
 

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