Former President Donald Trump’s vision for education centers on a broad overhaul, aiming to eliminate what he perceives as “wokeness” and left-wing influences from American schools. His proposals target everything from the content taught in classrooms to the structure of educational institutions themselves, with the goal of shifting educational priorities to reflect his political stance.
Trump’s education agenda includes banning lessons on gender identity and structural racism, abolishing diversity and inclusion offices, and preventing transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports.
He frames education as a battleground, one that needs to be “won back” from the left. With his return to the White House, Trump plans to use federal funding as a powerful tool to advance his education reforms across the country.
One key promise in Trump’s education plan is the withdrawal of federal funding from schools that refuse to comply with his directives. On the campaign trail, he was vocal about cutting funding for schools promoting critical race theory, supporting transgender issues, or enforcing vaccine and mask mandates.
He has stated that his administration will take executive action to implement these changes, although some of his supporters question whether he has the legal authority to make such sweeping changes.
Critics of Trump’s approach argue that his perception of education as a tool of liberal indoctrination is exaggerated and politically motivated. Wil Del Pilar, senior vice president for Education Trust, described Trump’s vision as “fear-based” and unsupported by evidence, especially the notion that students are being taught to question their sexuality in schools.
Others worry that his proposals could harm public education, especially for students who rely on essential services provided by schools.
Trump’s plan also promises to reward states and schools that adopt more conservative policies, such as ending teacher tenure, implementing universal school choice, and allowing parents to elect school principals.
One of his most ambitious goals is to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education entirely, a longstanding objective of conservative politicians, arguing that the department has been overtaken by “radicals.” He envisions transferring education responsibilities back to the states, reducing federal oversight in schools.
Currently, public K-12 schools receive about 14% of their funding from the federal government, with most of their revenue coming from state and local taxes. Trump’s leverage lies in his authority to enforce civil rights laws, which allows the Education Department to cut federal funds from schools that fail to adhere to these laws.
By targeting specific schools, such as those with diversity initiatives or diversity and inclusion offices, he believes he can pressure other districts to align with his views.
In addition to threatening funding cuts, Trump has floated the idea of legislation to address diversity programs in universities, potentially fining institutions for maintaining such initiatives. He has also proposed the creation of a free online university, the American Academy, funded by taxing large private university endowments.
Although Trump’s administration did not fully execute many of his previous education-related threats, such as cutting funds to schools that remained closed during the COVID-19 pandemic or restricting free speech on campuses, he succeeded in implementing a tax on wealthy university endowments and altering rules related to campus sexual assault.
Higher education leaders are hopeful that the relationship with the new administration will be less confrontational than Trump’s rhetoric suggests.
Peter McDonough, general counsel for the American Council on Education, emphasized that a cooperative relationship between the administration and higher education would be more beneficial for the nation than an adversarial one.
Despite his calls for limiting the federal government’s role in education, Trump’s plan appears contradictory in some areas. While he advocates for reducing federal involvement, his proposals also include nationwide bans on certain policies, such as transgender athletes in women’s sports and specific curriculum mandates.
Trump has vowed to reinstate his 1776 Commission, which promotes “patriotic” education and a curriculum focused on American values, even proposing a new credentialing body to certify teachers who align with these principles.
Though many of his proposals would require action from Congress or extensive rule-making processes, Trump has signaled his intent to act quickly on some fronts, such as rolling back President Joe Biden’s executive orders on racial equity and altering Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students.
Trump has also expressed opposition to Biden’s student loan forgiveness plans, which are currently stalled in courts, suggesting he may seek to undo or rewrite them upon taking office.
As the debate over Trump’s education policy continues, it is clear that his approach to reshaping America’s schools is far-reaching and reflects his broader political goals. Whether his plan will succeed in its entirety will depend on legal, political, and practical challenges that may arise in the coming years.