Schumer Says GOP Plan To Close Education Dept. Will Fail

Red and blue gloves labeled Republicans and Democrats concurring

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has thrown down the gauntlet against Republican efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, declaring such legislation would meet certain defeat under Democratic opposition.

Key Takeaways

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education, but congressional approval is required for actual dissolution of the department.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has declared any legislation aimed at closing the department will be “dead on arrival” in the Senate.
Republicans argue education control should return to states, while Democrats warn closure would harm education quality and student loan management.
The Department of Education, established in 1979, manages over $1 trillion in student loans and provides significant funding to schools nationwide.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has been tasked with planning the agency’s closure and transitioning programs to state agencies.

Battle Lines Drawn Over Department’s Future

President Donald Trump has taken steps to fulfill one of his campaign promises by signing an executive order aimed at eliminating the Department of Education. The order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to facilitate the agency’s closure and transition its programs to state authorities. However, the department, which was established by Congress in 1979 and began operations in 1980, cannot be eliminated by executive action alone.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has made his position unmistakably clear regarding Republican attempts to legislatively dismantle the department.

“Let me be very clear: If Republicans ever, ever, try to move a bill through the Senate that shuts down the Department of Education, Senate Democrats will halt it in its tracks. It will go nowhere. It will be dead on arrival,” said Schumer.

Senator Schumer: I will make sure to keep American children in a failed system. https://t.co/xJeb75rXsT pic.twitter.com/EnYwE7dict

— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) March 24, 2025

Federal vs. State Control of Education

The executive order signed by President Trump characterizes the Department of Education as having “entrenched the education bureaucracy and sought to convince America that Federal control over education is beneficial.” This perspective aligns with long-standing Republican principles that education decisions should be made at the local level rather than through federal oversight.

“Education is best administered by parents and teachers and those closest to students, not bureaucrats in Washington, DC,” stated House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy plans to introduce legislation that would officially eliminate the department, a move that has gained support from Republican leadership. The White House has emphasized that “ultimately, the Department of Education’s main functions can, and should, be returned to the states.” President Trump has assured that “the department’s useful functions… will be preserved, fully preserved,” though specifics about how this would occur remain unclear.

Significant Impacts and Concerns

The Department of Education currently manages over $1 trillion in student loans and provides substantial funding to schools nationwide. Critics of the proposed elimination express serious concerns about the future management of these programs and the potential impact on current student loan repayment plans. The order also calls for a review and potential termination of federal funding related to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Schumer, who has served in Congress since 1981, shortly after the department was established, has positioned Senate Democrats as a firewall against any legislative attempts to close the agency. The political standoff highlights the significant divide between Republicans’ desire to reduce federal involvement in education and Democrats’ belief in the necessity of federal oversight to maintain educational standards and equality.

With Republicans controlling the House and Democrats maintaining significant power in the Senate, the future of the Department of Education will likely remain a contentious issue throughout President Trump’s term. Any legislation to formally close the department would require bipartisan support to overcome potential filibusters and procedural hurdles in the Senate, support that Schumer has made clear will not be forthcoming from his party.