The effort to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education is not just a policy debate—it is an existential threat to education access, research, and economic mobility in the United States. As I discussed during the Texas AFT Virtual Town Hall, the ramifications would be massive, impacting everything from university research and financial aid to K-12 funding and school operations.
The Department of Education has played a critical role for decades, ensuring that schools, from Pre-K to post-doc, have access to federal funding that fuels progress in education, healthcare, technology, and workforce development. The idea of eliminating this essential infrastructure is reckless and shortsighted, designed to benefit political interests rather than the students, faculty, and communities that rely on these resources.
Below, I have queued up the YouTube video to start right before each section we addressed in the town hall.
The Role of Federal Research Funding in American Universities
At the university level, eliminating the Department of Education would be devastating to research and innovation. Federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) provide billions of dollars annually to support research, scholarship, and economic development in institutions across the country.
To put this into perspective:
- At large research institutions, federal grants often make up 30% to 50%—or even more—of the overall operating budget, depending on the institution’s research focus and funding sources.
- At regional universities, federal dollars are vital for teacher training, rural healthcare programs, engineering advancements, and community development.
- Without these funding streams, the ripple effects would devastate universities nationwide—leading to fewer research opportunities, loss of faculty and staff positions, cuts to salaries, increased tuition and fees, and diminished cutting-edge innovation that benefits both local economies and national progress.
As former President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, “Education is not a problem. Education is an opportunity.” If we strip away federal research funding, we aren’t just limiting opportunities for students and researchers—we are crippling the economic growth and global competitiveness of the United States itself.
What This Means for Financial Aid and Student Loan Repayment
Beyond research, eliminating the Department of Education would create chaos in financial aid and student loan repayment. Right now, the Department administers:
- Pell Grants, which help low-income students afford college.
- Work-study programs, which provide students with on-campus jobs to offset tuition costs.
- Direct federal student loans, including income-driven repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)—which was signed into law under President George W. Bush but later gutted by Betsy DeVos, leading to a lawsuit by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
If the Department of Education is eliminated, who takes over these responsibilities? Do states absorb the burden? Will private banks once again control student lending, as they did before the direct loan program was introduced? History tells us that privatizing student loans only leads to higher interest rates, predatory lending practices, and insurmountable student debt.
For working-class and middle-class students, particularly in states where public universities rely heavily on federal support to keep tuition manageable, the loss of these programs would make higher education even more inaccessible. We have already seen student debt levels skyrocket in recent decades—imagine what happens when there are no federal protections, no caps on interest rates, and no public service loan forgiveness.
The Bottom Line: The Stakes Are High
Dismantling the Department of Education isn’t just about cutting bureaucracy—it is about fundamentally redefining access to education. Without federal oversight and funding, we would see:
- Severe reductions in research funding, halting scientific and medical breakthroughs.
- Massive increases in student debt, as financial aid programs are privatized or eliminated.
- Fewer scholarships and grants, making higher education unaffordable for many students.
- Weaker protections for students and faculty, as federal civil rights enforcement (Title IX, disability protections, etc.) would be stripped away.
Students, educators, and families across the country need to be paying attention—because these policies will directly impact economic mobility, workforce development, and the future of higher education in every state.
What About K-12? A Viewer Question on Funding, Vouchers & School Closures
During the Q&A portion of the Texas AFT Virtual Town Hall, one viewer asked a critical question that I summarize here:
“How will education function in the new funding paradigm”
This question speaks to a broader national issue, not just in Texas. Public schools across the country already struggle with underfunding compared to the needs of their student populations. If federal education dollars are eliminated while simultaneously pushing for private school vouchers, the impact would be catastrophic for public education.
Here’s what would happen:
- Even deeper teacher shortages—With salaries already lagging, less funding means more attrition and fewer resources for teachers.
- Cuts to Special Education, Title I, and school nutrition programs—all of which are heavily dependent on federal funding.
- Higher local taxes—As state and federal funds dry up, property taxpayers will bear the burden of keeping schools afloat.
How Can We Stop This?
The key is mobilizing voters—especially in rural and suburban areas where public schools are often the largest employers and economic drivers. Many voters oppose vouchers once they understand that their local schools could be forced to close due to funding cuts.
We need to frame this issue as an economic crisis—because that’s exactly what it is. A weakened education system means a weaker workforce, less economic opportunity, and declining innovation in healthcare, energy, and technology—the industries that drive America’s future.
Final Thoughts: Education Is the Foundation of America’s Future
Dismantling the Department of Education is not a standalone issue—it is part of a broader political strategy to deconstruct public education, eliminate research funding, and privatize student aid.
As Americans, we need to be clear-eyed about what is at stake. If we allow political leaders to choke off funding for public education, we are undermining the very foundation of America’s prosperity.
The question is: Will we allow political interference to shut those doors for future generations, or will we stand up and fight for the future of America’s schools?