Schumer Vows To Block GOP Effort To End Education Dept.

Man speaks at podium with U.S. flag background.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has drawn a firm line in the sand against President Trump’s push to eliminate the Department of Education, declaring any Republican legislation attempting to do so would be “dead on arrival” in the Senate.

Key Takeaways

President Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education, but congressional approval is required for actual elimination.
Senate Minority Leader Schumer vowed Democrats would block any Republican attempt to shutter the department.
Republicans argue education should be managed by states rather than the federal government.
The Education Department manages over $1 trillion in student loans and provides significant funding for schools nationwide.
Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy plans to introduce legislation to officially eliminate the Department.

Trump’s Executive Order vs. Congressional Authority

President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at eliminating the Department of Education, fulfilling one of his campaign promises. The order tasks Education Secretary Linda McMahon with facilitating the agency’s closure and transitioning its programs to state agencies. However, the Department, established by Congress in 1979 and operational since May 1980, cannot be dismantled through executive action alone—it requires congressional approval.

The executive order argues that “the Department of Education has entrenched the education bureaucracy and sought to convince America that Federal control over education is beneficial.” It also calls for reviewing and terminating federal funding related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is preparing legislation to officially eliminate the department, supported by House Speaker Mike Johnson.

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

Schumer’s Strong Opposition

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has taken a decisive stance against the proposal. “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,” Schumer declared in comments that underscored Democratic opposition to the move.

“Education is best administered by parents and teachers and those closest to students, not bureaucrats in Washington, DC,” House Speaker Mike Johnson stated, emphasizing the Republican position favoring local control.

Schumer, who has served in the U.S. legislature since 1981, shortly after the department was established, has seen the agency’s evolution firsthand. His comments reflect the Democratic position that federal oversight plays a vital role in ensuring educational standards across the country. Democrats argue dismantling the department would harm education quality and remove important protections for students.

The Stakes and Potential Impact

The Department of Education currently manages over $1 trillion in student loans and provides significant funding for schools nationwide. Concerns exist about the future of student loan management and the potential impact on current repayment programs if the department were to be eliminated. The executive order has prompted significant debate about federal versus state control in education policy.

“Ultimately, the Department of Education’s main functions can, and should, be returned to the states,” the White House stated, reflecting the administration’s position on decentralizing education governance.

President Trump has attempted to assuage concerns by stating that “the department’s useful functions … will be preserved, fully preserved.” However, the specifics of which functions would be maintained and how they would be administered remain unclear. The administration argues that current bureaucracy misuses taxpayer money and that state-level control would improve educational outcomes.

With Democrats holding significant power in the Senate and Schumer’s unwavering opposition, the path to eliminating the Department of Education faces substantial legislative hurdles despite the presidential directive. This standoff represents one of the first major policy battles in the early days of Trump’s second term.