Since his first term in 2016, President Donald Trump has pushed to dismantle the Department of Education, a Cabinet agency that oversees federal education funding and policy. Eliminating the department would shift responsibilities elsewhere and raise questions about its impact on students and schools.

The Department of Education oversees 98,000 public schools and 32,000 private schools across the United States. It administers federal grants for initiatives such as special education and research. The department also ensures schools follow laws such as Title I, which supports low-income students, and Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination. These programs promote equal educational opportunities. The department manages the $1.6 trillion federal student loan program and the $30 billion Pell Grant program, which helps lower-income students afford college.

Eliminating the department could disrupt funding for Pell Grants, which provide financial assistance for college. Without these grants, rising tuition costs could increase student debt or prevent some from attending college. Changes to the student loan program could also reduce loan forgiveness options, making debt repayment more difficult.

Dr. Hummel, an assistant professor of political science who teaches courses such as Public Budgeting and Finance, said some speculate the Treasury Department could take over the Department of Education’s responsibilities. However, he questioned how such a transition would work.

“The Treasury Department would face serious challenges in managing student aid without major disruptions,” Hummel said. “The change could also weaken civil rights protections on campuses, since the Department of Education enforces those laws through its Office of Civil Rights. It could also affect grant funding for universities across the country.”

The department also funds programs such as ULM’s federal work-study program, which provides financially needy students with on-campus, part-time jobs. Losing this funding would limit student employment opportunities.

Universities rely on federal research grants to support academic work. ULM uses federal funds for TRIO programs, which assist low programs, which assist lower-income and first-generation college students. Faculty members also apply for grants to fund research projects. Cuts to federal funding would reduce these programs and limit student resources.

“This shift has already slowed research across the U.S.,” Pearson Cross, the director of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, said. “Colleges and universities have already adjusted their research agendas, and many researchers are reconsidering their ability to continue their work.”