By closing the Department of Education, Trump will return power to parents 

President Trump has initiated a bold strategy to overhaul the federal government, focusing on eliminating inefficiencies and reducing unnecessary expenditures. Central to this initiative is the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. DOGE’s mission is to scrutinize federal agencies, identify wasteful practices, and implement cost-cutting measures to streamline operations. 

A significant aspect of DOGE’s efforts involves the Department of Education (DOE). The administration has directed DOGE to investigate this department, aiming to uncover and address inefficiencies and potential misuses of funds. This move reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that taxpayer dollars are utilized effectively, particularly in areas as crucial as education. By targeting DOE, the administration seeks to enhance the quality of educational services while eliminating bureaucratic waste. 

The necessity of DOGE stems from a desire to foster a more accountable and efficient government. By leveraging Musk’s expertise in innovation and efficiency, DOGE aims to modernize federal operations, reduce redundancy, and ensure that public funds are allocated appropriately. This initiative is not only about cutting costs but also about enhancing the effectiveness of government services for the American people. 

DOGE has undertaken significant actions targeting DOE, sparking considerable debate and concern. 

A primary focus of DOGE’s initiative has been the substantial reduction of DOE’s budget and workforce. Notably, DOGE has terminated over $900 million in contracts, effectively dismantling the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).  

In addition to budget cuts, the administration has placed numerous employees on administrative leave, including those not directly involved in ridiculous diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles.  

President Trump has been vocal about his intentions, stating, “One other thing I’ll be doing very early in the administration is closing up the DOE in Washington.” He argued that the department has been overtaken by “radicals, zealots, and Marxists,” leading to inefficiencies and the promotion of liberal ideologies in schools.  

Musk has expressed confidence in this agenda, asserting that Trump will “succeed” in shutting down DOE. Musk’s approach, through DOGE, emphasizes aggressive cost-cutting and restructuring, aiming to reduce what he perceives as bureaucratic overreach and to promote efficiency within federal agencies. 

Trump and Musk aim to overhaul the DOE by implementing significant budget cuts and structural changes. This will lead to increased efficiency and the elimination of ideological bias. 

The overhaul of DOE is a necessary step toward restoring efficiency, cutting bureaucratic waste, and returning control of education to local communities. For decades, DOE has overreached its constitutional boundaries, imposing federal mandates that interfere with parental rights, local school autonomy, and educational choice. By dismantling ineffective programs and reducing the department’s size, President Trump and Musk are making good on a long-standing conservative goal: reducing the power of an unelected bureaucracy that has prioritized ideological agendas over academic excellence. 

One of the biggest criticisms of the DOE is its bloated budget, which has expanded dramatically without improving student outcomes. Federal involvement in education has led to increased red tape, more administrators, and wasted resources while failing to raise test scores or improve literacy and math proficiency. The decision to slash unnecessary spending, such as the $900 million in education research contracts, is a direct response to decades of inefficiency. Instead of funding studies and bureaucrats, those resources should be redirected to parents and schools that need them. 

Another major issue with DOE is its role in promoting left-wing ideology through DEI initiatives, as well as policies that undermine parental rights in education. The department has been instrumental in pushing woke curricula, enforcing policies that allow biological males in girls’ sports, and promoting gender ideology in schools—issues that many parents strongly oppose. Trump has made it clear that his goal is to “shut down the radical Marxist indoctrination happening in our schools” and restore traditional values to education. By dismantling the federal DOE, conservatives believe that local school boards and parents will regain control over what their children are taught. 

Musk’s involvement in DOGE underscores the commitment to efficiency, innovation, and results. Musk has built a career on eliminating waste and streamlining operations in industries that were resistant to change. His approach to government efficiency aligns with conservative principles of smaller government, fiscal responsibility, and performance-based reform. Musk will ensure that education policy is driven by data and real-world impact rather than political ideology. 

Education should be a state and local issue, not a federal one. The U.S. Constitution does not grant the federal government authority over education, and the DOE has long been viewed as an unnecessary overreach. By downsizing or even eliminating the department, Trump is making good on his promise to return power to states, parents, and local communities, ensuring that schools serve students and families rather than bureaucrats and special interests. 

Emily Thompson
Emily Thompson
Emily Thompson is an analyst on U.S. domestic and foreign affairs. Her work appears in various news publications including on the Activist Post, on The Published Reporter and here on TheThinkingConservative.com.

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