Between Access and Autonomy, The Ongoing War on the Department of Education (DOE)
The ongoing war against the Department of Education (DOE) is yet another example of the complex relationship between education and politics. Various media sources are continuously reporting on the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle the DOE. Beyond the contention and clickbait lies an even bigger question: what is happening to the value of education?
It is no secret that the question of value and return of investment has been amongst the many social and cultural conversations over the past few decades. But the ongoing rise of student loan debt has created much apprehension when it comes to converting a prospective student to an enrolled student. Writer Jamie Meristotis, in their 2025 article for Forbes, “Higher Education’s Big Test: Proving The Value Of College Degrees”, writes, “Over the past decades, the country has made significant progress in expanding access to college, creating more opportunities for veterans, women, Black students and other students of color, people from low-income households, and others… But to meet the demands of today’s economy, education and training after high school must deliver greater value. This will take a real redesign of higher education to meaningfully address concerns and create a system that works better for everyone.”
At the root of education and politics is the question of access and autonomy. Statistically, women and minority students have been outperforming white males in largely everything from test scores to holding advanced degrees to career prospects. Education programs whose mission is to provide funding support to these students have created a narrative that argues that due to these programs, women and minorities have been given an advantage their white counterparts haven’t, launching a contentious discourse over Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts.
The motivation to dismantle the DOE is about eliminating access and autonomy. Beyond just decreasing the number of women and minority students receiving college degrees, it will create a culture and society rooted in ignorance and lack of information and awareness. Writer Bianca Vazquez Toness, in her 2025 article for AP News, “Trump Has Ordered the Dismantling of the US Education Department. Here’s What That Means”, writes, “The department has been largely responsible for oversight, enforcing discrimination laws and distributing aid money for schools with low-income students and students with disabilities. Federal funding makes up a relatively small portion of public school budgets, roughly 14%..The biggest question is how the states will distribute the federal money the department sends to help educate students who are poor, disabled or still learning English and need extra support. School systems with weak property tax bases, including those in rural areas, depend on that money to pay teachers, pay for buses and buy classroom technology.”
There has never been a more crucial and controversial time to be witnessing. At the federal level, much change is being conducted and the ramifications of these changes will be felt for generations to come.
