Republicans are renewing efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, with legislative and administrative moves gaining traction as President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term.

While public support for the idea remains limited, proponents like Senator Mike Rounds argue the department is an ideal target for downsizing. Experts caution that significant hurdles, including public opposition and administrative complexities, make incremental reforms more likely than outright abolition.

Faculty experts at the George Washington University are available to offer insight, commentary and analysis on this matter. If you’d like to speak with an expert, please contact GW Media Relations Specialist Tayah Frye at [email protected].

Michael Feuer is Dean of the GW Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD) and a professor of education policy. He came to GW in 2010 after a 17-year tenure in leadership roles at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Dean Feuer’s research has focused on the economics of education, international comparative assessments, teacher preparation, inequality and academic opportunity, science policy, use of research to inform policy, philanthropy, and civics education. Dean Feuer about the effects of eliminating the Department of Education, especially in terms of what it would mean for public education in the U.S.

Dwayne Kwaysee Wright is an assistant professor of higher education administration and GSEHD Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives.  His research and social activism seek to advance educational opportunity and equity for all students, particularly those historically oppressed and marginalized in American society. Wright can speak to issues related to the elimination of the Department of Ed in terms of the Office of Civil Rights, education law, and higher education policies.

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