PHILADELPHIA — Former President Donald Trump reiterated his vow to move the Department of Education “to the states” during a rally at Temple University’s Liacouras Center on Saturday. This move would likely involve abolishing the Department of Education, established in 1979, and empowering each state’s own department or agency to oversee public education.
Trump claimed that this change would enable the country to cut education spending in half and achieve better education in some states, ultimately resulting in the best education in the world. However, he acknowledged that some states, such as California under Governor Gavin Newsom, might not fare as well.
The former president noted that the United States spends more per pupil than any other country, yet ranks at the bottom of every list. He asked, “What do you have to lose?” Such a change would be unprecedented, as no Cabinet department has ever been dissolved without being reorganized in some way.
Trump’s statement is part of a collection of Heritage Foundation policy proposals for the next presidential administration called Project 2025, which would limit, but not entirely remove, the government’s federal education policy.
Before the rally, Trump told reporters he had made up his mind on his running mate. He previously said he made his decision, before later revealing that several prominent Republicans were on his short list of vice presidential candidates.
