Trump & Musk Are Eliminating Public Education – The End of Schools as We Know It?

Clip from The NightBeat Breakdown | 2.6.2025

Feb 07, 2025

The Education System Under Attack: What’s Really Happening?

In a shocking but unsurprising move, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is using AI-powered data analysis to determine deep spending cuts for the Department of Education. According to a report from The Washington Post, this initiative is running sensitive financial and personnel data through Microsoft’s Azure AI system to pinpoint reductions in federal education spending. This revelation comes just days after President Donald Trump reaffirmed his plan to dismantle the Education Department altogether.

Why Is This Happening Now?

Trump’s long-held belief that education should be handled at the state level is at the core of this move. His administration has already taken the following steps:

Executive Orders Targeting Federal Education: Trump signed "Ending Radical Indoctrination In K-12 Schooling", an order cutting federal funding for schools that promote "gender ideology" or "equity-based curricula." (Read More)
Placing Key Figures in Power: Linda McMahon, former WWE executive and a longtime Trump donor, has been tapped to run the Education Department—only to dismantle it from within. (Who Is Linda McMahon?)
Mass Furloughs & Restructuring: At least 55 Department of Education employees have already been placed on paid leave, reportedly unrelated to their work in diversity and inclusion programs. (Education Staff Purge Details)

What Does DOGE’s AI Plan Mean for Students and Schools?

With DOGE's AI scanning federal education data, the real question is: what cuts are being prioritized? While the administration claims it is "seeking efficiency," the reality looks like this:

Title I Funding at Risk: The AI analysis may target Title I grants, which help low-income schools provide essential resources to underprivileged students.
Student Loan Program in Limbo: The $1.6 trillion federal student loan program is under review, with conservative think tanks pushing for a return to private lenders.
Special Education Funding Uncertain: The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), which ensures resources for students with disabilities, is another potential target for defunding.

Can Trump Shut Down the Department of Education?

Legally, Trump cannot eliminate the Education Department without Congress, but that doesn’t mean he won’t try. Here’s how he’s making moves to bypass Congress:

Executive Orders: By slashing funding and restructuring the agency, Trump can make the Education Department nearly nonfunctional without formally dissolving it.
Pressuring Congress: MAGA-aligned lawmakers could introduce legislation to dismantle or significantly weaken the department, shifting responsibilities to the states.
Privatization Efforts: Conservative policy groups are pushing to move federal student aid and education funding to private entities, effectively removing federal oversight from public education.
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How This Impacts the Future of American Education

If the Department of Education is weakened or eliminated, here’s what could happen:

✅ More power to states—red states will likely gut progressive education programs, while blue states may struggle with federal funding cuts.

✅ Federal oversight gone—civil rights protections, student loan regulations, and funding equity could vanish.

✅ Private lenders controlling student aid—higher loan costs and predatory lending could return, disproportionately impacting Black, Latino, and low-income borrowers.

The Resistance: What Can Be Done?

Democratic lawmakers and progressive organizations are pushing back, but protests alone won’t be enough. To counter Trump’s education power play, the resistance must:

📢 Mobilize voters at the local level—state governments will control school funding if Trump’s plan succeeds.

💰 Protect education funding by supporting initiatives and legal challenges against aggressive budget cuts.

🗳 Prepare for 2026—Democrats need to retake Congress before Trump permanently reshapes federal education policies.

👀 Is Musk’s AI-powered budget-cutting a cost-saving measure, or is it a tool for dismantling public education? Drop your thoughts in the KinFam Chat.

📢 Join the movement, share this article, and stay informed.

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