Consider This from NPR: Processing...

Release Date: November 18, 2024
Host: Mary Louise Kelly

1. Introduction: Trump’s Ambitious Education Plan

In the November 18, 2024 episode of NPR's Consider This, host Mary Louise Kelly delves into a bold and controversial promise made by President-elect Donald Trump: the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education. This significant move, if actualized, could reshape the landscape of American public education.

2. Trump’s Proposal to Abolish the Department of Education

President Donald Trump has consistently advocated for reducing federal involvement in education. Reflecting on his statements, Kelly highlights:

• Trump’s Declaration:
  [00:06] Donald Trump: “I want to close the Department of Education and move Education back to the states where it belongs, and I'm going to close the Department of Education and move Education back to the states, and we're going to do it fast.”

This announcement aligns with Trump's broader agenda to decentralize governmental functions, emphasizing states' rights over federal oversight.

3. Historical Context: The Birth and Evolution of the Department of Education

Kelly provides a concise history of the Department of Education, noting its relatively recent establishment:

• Creation:
  [00:53] Mary Louise Kelly: “Believe it or not, the Education Department in its current form is only about four decades old. It was then President Jimmy Carter, along with Congress, who elevated the department to a cabinet-level agency.”

• Scope and Responsibilities:
  [00:53] The department oversees a wide array of functions, including college student loans, aid for low-income public schools, and special education services.

Trump’s proposal is not unprecedented within Republican circles. Kelly references:

• Historical Precedent:
  [00:53] The idea of dismantling the Department of Education harkens back to Ronald Reagan’s 1982 State of the Union address, where he advocated for a smaller federal government.

4. Feasibility of Eliminating the Department: Legislative Hurdles

To assess whether President-elect Trump can unilaterally abolish the Department of Education, Kelly consults experts:

• Constitutional and Legislative Requirements:
  [03:03] Mary Louise Kelly: “Can President Trump shut down the Education Department if he wants to do it?”
  [03:26] Max Eden (American Enterprise Institute): “Not on his own, no. The ED Department... was created by Congress, and it can only be officially abolished by a vote of Congress.”

• Political Dynamics:
  Despite Republicans controlling both the House and the Senate, the enduring filibuster poses a significant obstacle:

  [04:13] Rachel Pereira (Brookings Institution): “They would need some Democratic senators. And that seems incredibly unlikely unless they get rid of the filibuster.”

Max Eden adds that securing the necessary 60 votes in the Senate is highly improbable in the current political climate.

5. Implications for Federal Education Programs

Even if the Department of Education were to be dissolved, existing educational funding programs might remain untouched:

• Autonomous Funding Streams:
  [04:23] Max Eden: “Many of the things that it does, like send money through Title 1 to low-income schools... would not automatically be stopped even if the department was closed.”

• Historical Funding Protections:
  [04:46] Programs such as Title I, established by Congress prior to the Department’s inception, are insulated from direct administrative elimination. These programs receive bipartisan support and are deeply embedded in federal education policy.

Eden emphasizes the political unfeasibility of eliminating these cornerstone programs:

• Political Reality:
  [05:46] Rachel Pereira: “Some of the schools who rely most on Title 1 are schools in poor, rural, white areas. And congressional Republicans have shown time and time again that they are not interested in hurting their constituents in that way by undoing those funding sources.”

6. Alternative Strategies: Regulatory Influence over Education Policy

Given the legislative barriers, the Trump administration may resort to altering educational policies through regulatory means rather than outright departmental dissolution:

• Regulatory Adjustments:
  [06:02] Max Eden: “What is much more likely going forward is to see the Trump administration really using regulations which obviously don't require Congress to make the department reflect its political values.”

• Title IX as a Case Study:
  [06:25] The discussion pivots to how the Trump administration might influence education through interpretations of existing laws.

  [06:25] Max Eden: “For example, Title IX is the federal law meant to prevent sex-based discrimination in schools that receive federal funding... Trump has said he will walk it back on day one.”

  This back-and-forth with Title IX illustrates the ongoing tug-of-war over educational policies, with each administration reinterpreting the laws to align with its ideological stance.

7. Conclusion: The Uncertain Future of Federal Education Oversight

The episode wraps up with a reflection on the unpredictable nature of federal involvement in education:

• Regulatory Roller Coaster:
  [07:31] Mary Louise Kelly: “Roller coaster does indeed sound like the apt term.”

As policies oscillate with changing administrations, the stability and direction of federal education oversight remain in flux. The likelihood of dismantling the Department of Education outright appears slim, but regulatory shifts may continue to shape the education landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump on Education Department Elimination:
  [00:25] Donald Trump: “Notion of opportunity for all and of knowledge for all.”

• Max Eden on Legislative Challenges:
  [04:13] Max Eden: “It's really hard to see how you can do that without 60 votes in the Senate.”

• Rachel Pereira on Bipartisan Support:
  [05:46] Rachel Pereira: “Some of the schools who rely the Most on Title 1 are schools in poor, rural, white areas...”

• Max Eden on Regulatory Influence:
  [06:02] Max Eden: “They [Trump administration] can use regulations... to make the department reflect its political values.”

Final Thoughts

NPR’s Consider This provides an insightful exploration into the potential dismantling of the Department of Education, examining the legal, political, and practical ramifications. While President-elect Trump’s proposal signifies a strong desire to overhaul federal education policy, substantial legislative and structural barriers make the complete elimination of the department unlikely. Instead, the focus may shift towards regulatory changes that subtly steer educational outcomes in line with the administration’s priorities.

For listeners seeking to understand the intricate dynamics of federal education policy and its future trajectory under the Trump administration, this episode offers a comprehensive and balanced analysis.

Produced by: Mark Rivers
Edited by: Jeanette Woods, Courtney Dorning, Nicole Cohen
Executive Producer: Sami Yenigun