Trump Dismantles Education Department in Second Term

During President Trump's second term, the U.S. Department of Education underwent a dramatic dismantling, with more than half of its workforce eliminated and multiple regional offices closed. The Supreme Court temporarily permitted these actions, enabling the firing of over 1,300 employees and major cuts to the Office for Civil Rights and Federal Student Aid. Through executive orders, the administration eliminated federal affirmative action requirements, rescinded Title IX protections for gender identity, and closed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices. Key responsibilities, including workforce and adult education programs, have been transferred to the Department of Labor. These sweeping changes have prompted legal challenges and widespread criticism, with concerns about weakened civil rights enforcement and support for vulnerable students. The administration maintains that the changes return educational control to states and local communities.