President Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency have called for major cuts to the U.S. Department of Education. They have described the department as a “con job” and want to shut it down. While there may be some waste in government, closing the department is not a solution. It is a risky move that could harm millions of children.
The main focus of this plan is to remove federal programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Supporters of this move say these programs are not necessary. But this view misses the real point. Federal education funding is not about political slogans. It is about giving every child a fair chance at a good education, no matter their background or family income.
Since the 1960s, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act has helped poor communities by sending them federal money. Many local school districts lack the funds they need. Without help from the federal government, students in these areas may sit in crowded classrooms, read outdated textbooks, and receive less attention from teachers.
This is not about politics. It is about fairness.
The Department of Education also helps the country’s most vulnerable children. One of its most important roles is carrying out the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which passed in 1975. This law makes sure that children with disabilities get the services they need. With federal money, schools can offer speech therapy, special learning tools, and one-on-one teaching. Cutting these funds would mean many students with disabilities would not get the support they need.
Another serious threat is the plan to gut the Institute of Education Sciences and the National Center for Education Statistics. These are the main research groups that collect and share facts about education in America. They are not political. They gather data on student test scores and trends in education. They help us learn what works and what doesn’t — especially for students who struggle with reading or are learning English.
Without this research, schools and lawmakers would be left guessing.
For example, one of the tools that could be lost is the What Works Clearinghouse. This service helps schools pick the best textbooks and learning programs based on evidence. If it is shut down, school districts will have to rely on marketing from companies instead of trusted research. This could lead to wasted money and poor learning results for students.
These cuts would not just affect Washington officials. They would impact children, parents, and teachers in every state — including Kansas. Parents would lose valuable information about their local schools. Teachers would no longer have access to research about how to help their students. And children with special needs might not receive the tools they need to grow and learn.
There is nothing wrong with trying to make government more efficient. But removing key education programs is not the way to do it. Once these programs are gone, they will take years to rebuild. In the meantime, an entire generation of students could be left behind.
