LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a move that has sparked both praise and concern across the country.
"We're going to be returning education very simply back to the states where it belongs," Trump said while signing the order.
On Friday, Trump announced that various responsibilities to other federal agencies. For instance, student loans will now be managed by the Small Business Administration. While Trump has assured that funding for low-income schools, Pell Grants, and programs for children with disabilities will remain intact, some educators worry about the broader impact of the department’s dissolution.
The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy reports that the state receives more than $1 billion in federal education funding annually.
Eddie Campbell, president of the Kentucky Education Association, said the move could create instability in public schools.
"I think that the chaos that's being created is very concerning," Campbell said. "We need to make sure that we're supporting and investing in our local public schools, not taking away those opportunities for all of our students."
Educators also warn that the layoffs already ordered will lead to delays in services for students.
"We want to make sure that the students that we work with every single day have the opportunity to be successful," Campbell added.
Supporters of the decision argue that the Department of Education has become overly bureaucratic and inefficient. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon defended the administration’s approach.
"We did it thoughtfully. We looked to see where duplication was in the departments. We wanted to make sure we were just cutting fat from the bureaucracy," McMahon said.
To fully do away with the Department of Education, Congress needs to act.Â
The decision has drawn criticism from some Democrats, including Kentucky Rep. Morgan McGarvey, who accused the administration of prioritizing tax cuts over students’ futures.
"Trump is stealing kids' futures to pay for tax cuts for billionaires," McGarvey said.
Congress would need to take legislative action to fully dismantle the department. The debate over the future of federal education policy is expected to continue in the coming months.
Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie applauded Trump's executive order.
In a post on social media, Massie encouraged Congress to act on his bill filed earlier this year to abolish the Department of Education.
Sen. Rand Paul also filed a bill to dismantle the Department of Education in 2021.
Previous coverage:Â
- JCPS teachers in Louisville hold 'walk-in' to protest federal cuts to public schools
- JCPS superintendent addresses concerns about overstaffing music education programs
- JCPS restores bus stops for some magnet, traditional school students in Louisville
- Trump has ordered the dismantling of the Education Department. Here's what it does
- Trump orders a plan to dismantle the Education Department while keeping some core functions
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