US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education on Thursday, March 20.
The executive order calls on the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.”
The order also orders the Secretary of Education to ensure the use of Department of Education funds complies with Federal law and Administration policy, “including the requirement that any program or activity receiving Federal assistance terminate illegal discrimination obscured under the label ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI) or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology.”
Before signing the executive order, Trump said Department of Education responsibilities such as Pell grants, Title I funding, and resources for children with disabilities and special needs will be “fully preserved” and “redistributed to various other agencies and departments.”
Established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, the Department of Education awards federal Pell Grants to undergraduate students “who display exceptional financial need.” Fifteen percent of UChicago students and more than 30 percent nationwide receive Pell Grants.
The agency is also responsible for administering the federal student loan program and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which UChicago’s financial aid office uses to determine eligibility for University grants and Federal Work-Study.
Along with providing financial support for students, the Department of Education enforces civil rights protections by withholding federal assistance from programs or institutions not in compliance. This enforcement also applies to private institutions, like UChicago, which receive federal funding for research and other activities.