Trump’s Proposal to Dismantle the Education Department Unpopular Among Americans

Since Inauguration Day, the Trump administration has aggressively downsized the government bureaucracy, cancelling federal contracts and shedding thousands of federal workers as a part of implementing the right-wing agenda outlined in Project 2025. One of President Donald Trump's chief targets in this downsizing is the U.S. Department of Education, which he has promised to dismantle entirely. Sworn in as secretary a few hours ago, Linda McMahon, Trump’s pick to lead the department, the former chief executive of the World Wrestling Entertainment network, many times indicated during her confirmation hearing that she planned on carrying out the president's agenda, including shutting down the Education Department.

However, this is a highly unpopular idea among Americans, according to new nationally representative polling data from New America. It shows a majority of Americans oppose getting rid of the Education Department. And many Americans disagree with many policy decisions being carried out by the Trump administration and so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or U.S. DOGE Service, according to the polling.

New America commissioned Voss Research and Strategy to conduct the nationally representative poll from February 21st to 25th. New America found that over half (55 percent) of American adults oppose eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. Only 1 in 4 favored getting rid of the Education Department, and 17 percent are unsure. Unsurprisingly, given how Trump has made clear that this is one of his big goals since his campaign, this question reflects a partisan divide: nine in ten Democrats (89 percent) oppose, while half of Republicans (51 percent) favor this proposal (see Figure 1). On the other hand, 54 percent of Independents oppose.

Project 2025 calls for shifting the Education Department's duties and offices to other federal agencies. Federal Student Aid, or FSA, the Education Department office that manages hundreds of millions of dollars for programs like Pell Grants and student loans, would move to the U.S. Department of Treasury under the plan. However, the Treasury Department has no experience handling the intricacies of student grants and loans. Americans are skeptical of the plan, too. More than 60 percent of Americans don’t think moving the Education Department’s responsibilities to other agencies is a good idea, including 89 percent of Democrats, 43 percent of Republicans, and 57 percent of Independents (see Figure 2).

In February, DOGE canceled nearly $900 million in contracts at the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the research arm of the Education Department. IES conducts crucial studies that allow policymakers and the public to better understand how the country's educational initiatives are working, and how to improve student learning and outcomes, like graduation rates. The sudden termination of these contracts halted research and data collection efforts that have been underway or near completion, wasting taxpayer money that was already invested in these projects. Sixty-three percent of Americans oppose ending research contracts, including 89 percent of Democrats, 43 percent of Republicans, and 64 percent of Independents (see Figure 3).

DOGE has also suggested replacing call centers tasked with answering questions about federal student financial aid with generative artificial intelligence chatbots. The call centers handle a range of nuanced questions about student aid, from eligibility for grants, loans, and repayment options to assistance filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Removing human support from the federal student aid system would make it more likely students and families would receive incorrect information, as New America’s Edward Conroy argued in a recent essay. Americans are also not comfortable with this idea: two thirds oppose replacing the call centers with AI chatbots. Among the respondents, 86 and 58 percent of Democrats and Republicans respectively oppose the idea. (see Figure 4).

Dismantling the Education Department would cause irreparable harm to student learning and progress, especially for disadvantaged students not served by American educational systems, including low-income students, students of color, undocumented students, and students with disabilities. Without the department, students will assuredly face disruptions in services, potentially derailing their college journeys. In addition, without the Education Department’s oversight of critical programs, students and taxpayers will be left at risk of fraud and abuse of federal funds, the opposite of the efficiency that DOGE, led by tech mogul Elon Musk, is trying to achieve. As the poll numbers reflect, there’s deep dissatisfaction with the Trump administration’s actions and these ideas that will cause great damage to students and families.

For more on New America’s growing collection of posts and statements on defending the Department of Education, see here.