Staff Reports
The Trump administration appears poised to take a monumental step in shaking up the bureaucratic swamp by drafting an executive order that may signal the beginning of the end for the Department of Education. Although executive orders are notoriously easy to reverse, this strategic move could theoretically weaken the department’s power while simultaneously compelling Congress to step in and abolish it altogether. One can almost hear the collective sigh of educators across the country, as they prepare for the possible disbandment of a department that many have long deemed an unnecessary relic of federal overreach.
The origins of the Department of Education are rooted in political favors rather than genuine concern for American students. It was birthed from the ambitions of the National Education Association, which supported Jimmy Carter’s candidacy in 1976 in exchange for this very agency. Reason Magazine and other sources have shed light on how the initiative was less about improving education and more about bolstering Carter’s dwindling approval ratings as the nation grappled with economic challenges. Spoiler alert: the plan backfired spectacularly.
Did Elon Musk Hint That Several Government Departments May Get the Axe?https://t.co/oQbgvymq9d
— PJ Media (@PJMedia_com) February 5, 2025
Despite being around for decades, the Department of Education has had a less-than-stellar impact on the actual quality of education in the U.S. During those years, American students have fallen further behind on the global stage, proving that pouring money into education doesn’t necessarily improve it. Now, with Trump potentially snipping the government’s educational safety net, it raises an eyebrow about what other departments might be on the chopping block.
The plot thickens with Elon Musk’s recent cryptic behavior, further suggesting that the piggy bank of federal bureaucracy is ripe for a serious downsizing. Musk, who has proclaimed himself the head honcho of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), resurfaced a vintage video of economist Milton Friedman, who famously advocated for slashing most federal departments to their essential roles. According to Friedman, the only departments that should remain are those that provide national defense, law enforcement, and basic governance—surely a refreshing thought for the millions fed up with red tape.
Musk’s sharing of Friedman’s words leaves many wondering if he was dropping hints about which departments might meet their demise. The economist pointed his dagger at several entities, including Agriculture, Commerce, Energy (minus military functions), and Housing and Urban Development. After all, who doesn’t want to see a little less bureaucracy standing between them and their ability to live freely? Friedman even went so far as to suggest selling off vast government land holdings—talk about a refreshing slice of common sense in an era of government overreach.
All signs point to an exciting new chapter in American governance, one where citizens can breathe a sigh of relief as the bureaucratic behemoth is trimmed down, making room for competitive innovation and individual responsibility. One can only hope that the Department of Education may soon become an important case study in how government should, in theory, not function. The era of bloated bureaucracies might soon be at an end, leaving behind a leaner, meaner government that actually serves the people it’s meant to represent.
