By Violet Daly ‘26

Since Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, 2025, there has been a flood of changes to government departments and policies. Among these affected departments is the U.S Department of Education (ED), where the federal government fired over 50% of its federal workers.

President Trump announced that he would take the necessary steps to dismantle the ED on March 20, 2025, declaring that he would like the Department of Education to be “closed immediately” and that it is a “big con job.” Trump outlined various reasons, some concerns about wasteful spending, and some aligning with his broader agenda to eradicate all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) government initiatives.

To eliminate the implementation of DEI in school curricula, including cutting out critical race theory and transgender studies, Trump asked the Supreme Court to halt millions of dollars in funding for education grants relating to all DEI efforts.

In addition to concerns regarding DEI in school curricula, Trump decried low test scores in the U.S., claiming that the country ranks first in the world in the amount of government spending per student but is ranked 40th for standardized testing scores in public schools.

According to the U.S. News and World Report, U.S. teenagers ranked fifth in reading, 21st in math, and tied for tenth in science among countries that belong to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and spends less than other countries on primary education; these facts counter Trump’s argument.

To mitigate the perceived overspending on schools, Trump suggested the destruction of the ED and quickly cut its budget. Over 2,000 workers lost their jobs.

Assistant head of CGS, Kama Bruce, when asked who he thinks will bear the brunt of this change, stated that “the most immediate harm that [he is] concerned about is to special education.” He highlighted that schools structure special education programs to help students with disabilities and language barriers. As these programs have fewer teachers, these students may not get what they need to succeed in school.

This defunding is expected to impact teachers significantly, with the greatest effect on those working at high-need schools. In response, advocates and former federal employees have pushed back, protesting the cut to both funding and workers. Concerned for their students and the future of their schools, teachers responded with protests and lawsuits.

In Denver, where some of the largest protests occurred, teachers were advocating for more funding with signs bearing messages such as “Fund our schools! Our students are worth it!” and “I miss our students today, but I love them too much to not fight for their future.”

A lawsuit brought by teachers’ unions asserts that the president does not have the power to dismantle the ED without the support of Congress.

The fate of the ED is unknown. The department’s funding and staffing have been cut, and there is a push to eliminate the department completely, but the impact of these changes has yet to impact students' experience.

Efforts to dismantle it are met with simultaneous pushback. Many are voicing their concerns, and none are sure whether or not the ED will ultimately fall.

Trump announces efforts to dismantle the Department of Education