President Donald Trump is moving forward with his plan to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. This decision aims to put parents back in charge of their kids’ schooling instead of Washington bureaucrats. The move comes after years of failing test scores and wasted tax dollars.
Erika Donalds, a leading education expert, says the Department of Education has spent trillions since 1979 but failed students. Only 30% of kids read or do math at grade level. Donalds argues the money went to bloated bureaucracy and union jobs instead of classrooms. She calls it a “jobs program” for adults, not kids.
Liberal policies have made things worse. Open borders flooded schools with non-English speakers, forcing teachers to slow down lessons. Resources meant for American kids now pay for social workers and language tutors. Radical ideas like critical race theory and DEI programs push politics over basics like reading and math.
Trump’s plan sends education money and control to states. Red states like Indiana and Florida already show how this works. Indiana’s scholarship program lets parents use funds for tutoring or private schools. Florida expanded school choice, giving families options beyond union-run public schools. These states prove local control works better than federal mandates.
Teachers unions hate this idea. They fear losing power if parents can choose better schools. Donalds says unions care more about their paychecks than kids. School choice lets parents pick schools that actually teach – often non-union ones that outperform public schools. Competition forces failing schools to improve or close.
The Biden administration let schools become political battlegrounds. Trump’s executive order starts cutting federal red tape immediately. Congress must fully abolish the department, which could take years. But GOP leaders say even blue states might join once they see the benefits of local control.
Critics claim shutting the department hurts vulnerable kids. Donalds calls this nonsense. States will still get funds for special needs and low-income students – without Washington’s rules. Parents, not unions, should decide what’s best for their children. Transparency and report cards will let voters hold local leaders accountable.
President Trump is keeping his promise to drain the education swamp. For too long, elites and unions ignored parents. Returning power to families and states will restore excellence. This is a win for common sense and a brighter future for American students.
