A.G. Gancarski
Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Washington when President Donald Trump signed his executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. But DeSantis says the presidential edict alone has limited efficacy.
“I think he can, from the inside, neuter the organization, but it will not be wiped off the statute books by an executive order. That has got to come from the Congress,” DeSantis said on “The Ingraham Angle.”
When asked if Congress would do what’s needed to get rid of the Department that was instituted in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter and criticized ever since on the Right, DeSantis said “probably not.”
“You can’t win a Republican Primary in this country as a Republican saying you want to keep the Department of Education. And so why aren’t they voting to codify?” DeSantis said.
“This is like so many other things President Trump’s done. They’re not codifying his immigration executive orders. They’re not codifying these things. So while this is good policy in the instant, we want it to stand the test of time. Congress has to be the ones to do that.”
It’s unclear how sweeping the changes will be, or even if there will be any unless Congress surprises DeSantis and takes action.
“Closing the Department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them — we will continue to support K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs. We’re going to follow the law and eliminate the bureaucracy responsibly by working through Congress to ensure a lawful and orderly transition,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
McMahon’s statement that the Department will work with student borrowers contradicts the language of the executive order itself.
“The Department of Education currently manages a student loan debt portfolio of more than $1.6 trillion. This means the Federal student aid program is roughly the size of one of the Nation’s largest banks, Wells Fargo,” the order reads.
“But although Wells Fargo has more than 200,000 employees, the Department of Education has fewer than 1,500 in its Office of Federal Student Aid. The Department of Education is not a bank, and it must return bank functions to an entity equipped to serve America’s students.”
The Department is cutting its staff. But without a reduction in functions by Congress, that may simply mean that it will just be less effective while tasked with the same statutory responsibilities it’s had for decades.
11 comments
Michael K
March 21, 2025 at 9:01 am
Pure performative political theater – including the use of children as human props. No serious, sound policy – just another smokescreen and boogeyman to cover up more huge tax cuts for billionaires. And the rubes just continue to salivate over the red meat.
Chuck Anziulewicz
March 21, 2025 at 9:05 am
I don’t think there are the votes in Congress to completely eliminate the Department of Education, so the co-presidents will do whatever they can to shrink it.
Peachy
March 21, 2025 at 9:30 am
Shrinking our over bloated and highly inefficient government is a good thing. Don’t you think?
A White Spiteful Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Watse
March 21, 2025 at 11:51 am
Cut NOAA , when a Cat 5 hurricane, obliterate the Florida coast with 150 miles winds and 30 ft tidal surge in Miami on July 8 2025 and do.pay people in Florida Fema recovery claims from past storms
Michael K
March 21, 2025 at 10:42 am
Fun fact: Federal employees – who serve 342 million Americans – account for less than 2% of the US workforce – which is the same absolute level it was in 1969. And, the federal payroll accounts for about 6% of federal expenditures. In fact, the US federal government workforce is below that of other developed nations – Great Britain, Australia, Canada.
The only thing bloated is the egos of the current administration prioritizing huge tax cuts for billionaires at the expense of poor working people.
Peachy
March 21, 2025 at 10:59 am
The majority of my property tax bill goes to the public school system where I live. Fun fact.
FLPatriot
March 21, 2025 at 11:52 am
As it should to create an educated society. So we don’t repeat things like voting in low life fascists that destroy our country.
ScienceBLVR
March 21, 2025 at 11:05 am
My fear is if they are successful in decimating the DOE and simply send block grant funding to the states with no guidelines for spending, many groups of students will be marginalized and have their support funding eliminated. Think students with disabilities, low level readers, Title One services in high poverty schools , early childhood programs- all that serve students who benefit from specific federal funding. Can you imagine what happens and how those funds would be spent in Florida with this governor and legislature? Strip Mall Charter Schools here we come.
Ron Ogden
March 21, 2025 at 11:54 am
“Strip Mall Charter Schools here we come.”
And what is the matter with that? I would rather several small, neighborhood schools were located in under-used properties where students could attend without having to be bused halfway across town to one giant high school of the kind that were built in Florida 30 years and more ago. Effective teaching can take place in a grove of olive trees, as Plato famously showed. It doesn’t have to be some sort of educational megalith. Scientists who seem to think there is only one way of doing things are remarkably closed-minded. . .for scientists.
A White Spiteful Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Watse
March 21, 2025 at 12:00 pm
Who looking out for your children,not Republican politicians Google Trump Derangement Senator Arrest
Michael K
March 21, 2025 at 12:24 pm
Florida has the second-highest failure rate for unaccountable charter schools in the nation. One in four closes within five years – and more than 60% have failed in the past 20 years.