Nicolai Haugsted
The president once again steps in regarding the US education.
Control over some of the federal government’s most sensitive education-related duties is set to change hands as the Trump administration takes another step toward reshaping Washington’s role in schools and universities.
According to Reuters, officials announced Tuesday that several responsibilities currently housed within the U.S. Department of Education will be transferred to other federal agencies, part of a broader effort to reduce the department’s footprint and redistribute its functions elsewhere in government.
Civil rights oversight moves elsewhere
Under the latest plan, responsibility for civil rights enforcement and student privacy protection will shift to the Department of Justice.
Programs connected to special education services for students with disabilities will be handled by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Federal officials say the changes build on partnerships established last year that were designed to share or transfer duties traditionally managed by the Education Department.
Longstanding Trump goal
Reducing the federal government’s involvement in education has been a central objective for Trump since his return to office.
Throughout the 2024 campaign, Trump repeatedly argued that states should have greater authority over education policy and pledged to dismantle the Department of Education.
Staffing reductions have already significantly reshaped the agency, and Tuesday’s announcement signals another step in that direction.
According to the department, the latest restructuring is intended to “reduce federal bureaucracy.”
Critics raise concerns
Education advocates and civil rights organizations have sharply criticized the administration’s efforts, warning that moving responsibilities between agencies could weaken oversight and accountability.
Criticism has also intensified over broader administration policies involving diversity programs, educational institutions and historical initiatives.
Federal agencies under Trump have launched investigations involving universities and schools over issues ranging from diversity practices and transgender policies to climate-related initiatives and campus protests connected to the war in Gaza.
Civil rights groups argue that the administration’s broader agenda is reversing progress made over several decades and altering how major chapters of American history are presented through public institutions.
Supporters of the administration, meanwhile, contend that shifting responsibilities away from the Education Department will streamline government operations and return more authority to states and local communities.
