Summary
Trump has been forced to scale back his plan to shut down the Department of Education completely.
While signing an executive order to begin dismantling the agency, Trump conceded that it will continue operating key functions including student loans, Pell grants, and certain civil rights enforcement.
The White House Press Secretary clarified that the “department will be much smaller” while returning “the great responsibility of education…to the states.”
Democrats and rights activists have condemned the move, with Senator Tina Smith vowing to “fight your illegal behavior.”
I suspect this is more likely a backlash from Republicans internal to the administration who are carrying student loan debt, benefiting from Pell Grants, or otherwise finding themselves directly impacted by the program.
Very routine for Trump to announce a thing, have someone in his admin whisper in his ear, reverse his decision, have a different person whisper in his ear, double down, have a third person whisper in his ear, get distracted and let his cabinet secretaries do as they please.
Don’t get excited. You can still guarantee the money entrusted to the DoEd is going to get embezzled, while people who aren’t friendly with the administration will be targeted for harassment and hardship.