President Donald Trump took further steps to dismantle the Department of Education, signing an executive order on March 20. With federal financial matters in murky waters, the future of FAFSA remains unclear, raising a question. How does Trump’s notion apply to the future of Dripping Springs seniors utilizing federal aid for further education?
The Department of Education (ED) is notorious for giving Federal Pell Grants to undergraduates paying for university tuition. With Trump plausibly closing the department, the function of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will not necessarily close, and rather be moved to a different federal agency. For Trump to succeed in abolishing the Department of Education, he needs a supermajority of the U.S. Senate to abolish the agency, relying on seven Democrats to vote yes for congressional approval, with the Senate resting on Republicans with a 53-47 majority.
“I don’t know that the president actually has authority to [dismantle the department] because it is created by the legislative branch, right?” AP Government teacher Cheryl Alexander said. “So you have the bureaucracy that’s involved. He has his executive orders, and I think that’s where all the judicial issues are in play, right?”
What remains clear is the steady cuts the Department of Education is facing. Originally being the smallest department with 4,133 staff members, Trump’s order has cut by over half, which leaves 2,183 remaining department staff, according to the administration. (NPR)
The plausible soft abolition of the Department of Education would abolish the agency, yet redistribute its functions to other agencies. The Office of Federal Student Aid, known for Pell Grants, could possibly apply to the Department of the Treasury. The Office of Civil Rights stresses the importance of Title IX, which protects students against gender-based discrimination and ensures equality, and could be moved to the Department of Justice. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Title I will most likely be redistributed to the Department of Labor.
The president claims he will abolish the offices of the Department of Education he deems as unnecessary, being sure of “preserving its responsibilities for Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell grants and money for children with disabilities.” (AP News)
[The dismantle] didn’t actually sound like it aligned with loans totally, but he’s trying to move it out of the Department of Education into another agency,” Alexander said. “So it sounds like it’ll still be there and exist. My question would be, does it fall under mandatory discretionary spending in regards to support and regarding those loans? I would assume it falls under mandatory.”
The future of the ED remains uncertain, however, students should presumably have access to financial aid despite the status of FAFSA, as its functions would likely be moved to another department if the closure of the ED accelerates.