It’s all the rage in MAGA-world to call for the elimination of the Department of Education—usually with slogans like “return power to the states” or “cut wasteful bureaucracy.” But behind those talking points lies something much more dangerous: an effort to dismantle public education as a national priority and further rig the system against working families.

A Quick History Lesson

The U.S. Department of Education was established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter. Its mission was simple: ensure equal access to education and promote educational excellence across the country. Before that, federal education programs were scattered across different agencies, and there was no centralized authority to ensure consistency, civil rights protections, or equitable funding.

Since its inception, the Department has:

• Protected students with disabilities through IDEA.

• Enforced Title IX, preventing discrimination based on sex.

• Administered federal financial aid so that millions of students could afford college.

• Collected national data to help local schools and policymakers make informed decisions.

• Responded to crises—from natural disasters to pandemics—by supporting school systems in need.

Why It Still Matters Today

Education isn’t just a local issue. We are a mobile, national economy. Kids move. Families relocate. Standards matter. A kid in Riverside should be held to the same expectations—and have access to the same resources—as a kid in Raleigh or Reno.

The Department of Education ensures that schools in low-income areas aren’t left behind, that civil rights are enforced, and that funding formulas aren’t manipulated by politics or prejudice.

Without it, states would be on their own. And if you think every state would rise to the challenge, take a good look at the ones banning books, rewriting history, and underfunding their school systems while giving tax cuts to millionaires.

The Real Reason They Want to Kill It

The movement to “abolish” the Department of Education isn’t about freedom. It’s about control—and not by the public, but by the wealthy and well-connected.

If you can gut federal protections, you can:

• Slash school budgets without oversight.

• Roll back rights for LGBTQ+ students and students with disabilities.

• Funnel more money to unaccountable charter networks and religious schools.

• Push propaganda instead of facts.

It’s not about kids. It’s about power.

Let’s Be Blunt

Killing the Department of Education won’t empower parents. It’ll empower politicians and corporations to sell out our kids’ future.

It’ll hurt rural students who already lack resources. It’ll hurt urban students facing overcrowded classrooms. It’ll especially hurt low-income, Black, brown, immigrant, and disabled students who rely on federal protections just to get a fair shot.

We don’t need less oversight—we need better funding, stronger protections, and leaders who understand that education is an investment, not a handout.

The Bottom Line

Destroying the Department of Education won’t fix our schools. It will abandon them.

If we want a country that competes in the 21st century, that lifts people out of poverty, that unlocks the full potential of every kid—we need a Department of Education that is stronger, bolder, and better resourced.

This isn’t just about bureaucracy. It’s about our future.

And I won’t stand by while they try to burn it down.