Trump ‘ordered’ the Education Department’s demise almost a year ago

March 12, 2026 - 18:16

Nearly a year after former President Donald Trump explicitly ordered the winding down of the U.S. Department of Education, the agency continues to operate as a significant force in federal policy. Despite the directive, which came during the final months of his administration, the sprawling bureaucracy has proven resilient.

Observers had considered the department a potential target for dissolution, aligning with a long-stated conservative goal to drastically reduce the federal footprint in education. The order signaled an intent to shift authority and funding directly to states. However, the complex machinery of government, coupled with the department's deep-rooted role in administering student loans, enforcing civil rights laws, and distributing billions in grants, has stalled any rapid dismantling.

Current initiatives and regulatory actions continue to emanate from the department, influencing everything from pandemic recovery in schools to the implementation of major legislation. This endurance highlights the chasm that can exist between political directives and the practical, sustained functioning of a cabinet-level agency. The department's ongoing activity underscores its entrenched position, ensuring it remains a central arena for national education debates regardless of political winds.