U.S. President Donald Trump sparked debate Wednesday by doubling down on his call to close the federal Education Department “immediately”, calling it a “big con job.” 🚨💥 The remarks, made from the Oval Office, reignited his long-standing push to shrink the federal government’s role in education.
Trump claimed the U.S. ranks “No. 1 in cost per pupil” globally but lags in academic performance—a critique he’s raised since his 2016 campaign. 📊 “We’re ranked number 40th,” he told reporters, though he did not cite specific data sources.
Why it matters: Closing the department—which manages $251B in annual spending and supports K-12 programs and college aid—could disrupt millions of students’ funding. 🎓 Critics argue such a move would dismantle federal safeguards for vulnerable learners.
Trump also targeted agencies like USAID, claiming “tremendous fraud” in federal programs. However, Congress must approve any shutdowns—a hurdle given bipartisan opposition to defunding education initiatives. 🏛️
This comes as Trump’s team pushes a broader agenda to slash federal jobs and hand oversight to figures like Elon Musk, whose “Efficiency” department has gained access to agency payment systems. 💻
