President Donald Trump’s Department of Education (DOE) has made significant strides since he took office, focusing on a range of initiatives ahead of Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon’s confirmation hearing scheduled for Thursday morning. Trump aims to abolish the DOE and transfer more power back to states and communities, a vision he has humorously suggested McMahon should pursue to "put herself out of a job." In the meantime, the DOE has been actively addressing issues such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, gender ideology, antisemitism, and perceived wasteful spending.
These changes have largely been driven by a series of executive orders from Trump, which have prompted a comprehensive reassessment of federal policies to eliminate what his administration views as divisive left-wing ideologies that lack a factual basis.
Among the key actions taken by the DOE under Trump’s leadership are the elimination of nearly $1 billion in contracts, including 29 DEI training grants worth $101 million. The newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has also cut $15 million in DEI grants that were allocated to teacher training programs at various universities, a move that reflects the administration’s commitment to reducing what they consider unnecessary expenditures.
The DOE has also disbanded its Diversity & Inclusion Council, rescinded its Equity Action Plan, and is in the process of removing over 200 DEI-related pages from its website. Additionally, the department has taken steps to counter what it describes as "Biden’s Book Ban Hoax," a reference to policies implemented under the previous administration.
In a move that underscores the administration’s stance on gender issues, Trump signed two executive orders aimed at reinforcing biological realities in schools and sports. These orders have led the DOE to instruct its employees to eliminate programs that do not affirm biological sex, and the department has initiated investigations into universities and athletic associations for potential Title IX violations related to the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
The department is also prioritizing investigations into antisemitic incidents at five universities accused of allowing harassment against Jewish students. This initiative aims to address a backlog of cases that accumulated during the previous administration.
On the educational front, Trump has expressed strong support for school choice. He signed an executive order directing the DOE to enhance school choice programs and recently announced the release of $33 million in grant funding for charter schools, which had been stalled under the Biden administration.
McMahon, who previously served as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration and co-founded World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), has been characterized by Trump as a staunch advocate for parents’ rights in education. He has tasked her with leading efforts to return educational authority to state and local levels. McMahon’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee is set for 10 a.m. ET on February 13.
The DOE has indicated its intention to maintain momentum in its initiatives under McMahon’s potential leadership, focusing on empowering parents and states, enhancing school choice, and prioritizing core educational skills over divisive ideologies. The agency aims to reorient itself toward fostering meaningful learning experiences for students across the nation.