Eliminate or radically reduce the U.S. Department of Education. Lean into calls to abolish the Department are growing, driven by concerns over declining student achievement, excessive bureaucracy, and federal overreach.

Prioritize School Choice at the Federal Level. Reorient federal policy to support state-led choice programs, including charter schools and microschools, and remove federal barriers that disadvantage non-traditional schools in areas like food service and special education funding.

Reform Federal Funding Mechanisms

• Redirect USDA lunch subsidies to follow students rather than districts.
• Revise IDEA funding so that students with disabilities in choice settings receive equitable support.
• Direct Title I funds straight to schools based on actual disadvantaged student populations.

Reorganize federal postsecondary education functions. Transfer the Office of Postsecondary Education and related funding duties to the U.S. Treasury, eliminating politically driven and inefficient federal subsidies and oversight mechanisms like accreditation.

Decentralize and reassign categorical programs. Evaluate which programs should exist, and transfer some (e.g., IDEA) to agencies like Health and Human Services to ensure better alignment with student needs.

Reduce the Department’s footprint. Following reallocation and restructuring, evaluate whether the Department should remain a Cabinet-level agency or be scaled back to a leaner research and support office.

Tackling Bureaucracy in Education. Nearly 47% of educational funding is consumed by regulatory compliance, she says, reducing the effectiveness of teachers and limiting innovation. The Department’s new strategy involves actively dismantling unnecessary regulations and streamlining departmental processes to empower educators and entrepreneurs.

Communicating Policy Clarity. Amid public concern about cuts to vital educational programs, McMahon emphasized the administration’s commitment to sustaining support for initiatives like special education and Pell Grants. She stressed the need for consistent, transparent communication to correct misperceptions and alleviate fears.

Supporting Choice and Best Practices. Although education policy is largely state-driven, McMahon believes the federal government can play a pivotal role in highlighting and disseminating successful educational models. By touring states and evaluating various school types—public, private, charter, and magnet—she aims to inspire competitive improvement and broader adoption of effective practices.

Bridging Workforce and Education. Challenging the false dichotomy between college and vocational paths, McMahon advocates for a hybrid model integrating apprenticeships, dual-credit courses, and industry partnerships. This strategy prepares students for the workforce while allowing them to earn credentials that align with both higher education and skilled trades.

Redefining Student Loan Management. Recognizing inefficiencies in the current student loan system, McMahon is exploring options to transfer oversight from the Department of Education to agencies like the Treasury or the Small Business Administration. These changes aim to improve loan quality, collection, and support for borrowers.

Follow along here or on X @edreform for frequent updates on actions from Washington.

Investigate and Enforce Janus v. AFSCME. Federal agencies actively communicate and enforce teachers’ rights under the 2018 Janus decision, which prohibits mandatory union dues for public employees. Curbing union practices that mislead or pressure teachers will free educators to act more independently and embrace innovative teaching approaches.

Enforce Constitutionality of School Choice. The Departments of Justice and Education uphold Supreme Court decisions (Espinoza v. Montana and Carson v. Makin) which affirm the constitutionality of school choice. Challenging the enforcement of Blaine Amendments in states where they are used to block religious school funding will open up additional funding for new schools, and place state courts on notice regarding their obligation to follow federal precedent.

Evaluate Federal Equity in School Funding. Launching an inquiry into why state-authorized educational alternatives—charter, private, and microschools—can explore why federal dollars often don’t go to these models and primarily to traditional public schools. Advocate for funding equity across all school types to eliminate discriminatory funding practices.

To learn more about state and local policy, click here to dive into the CER Policy Library and bookmark News & Analysis.  

On January 29, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families,” aiming to enhance school choice across the United States. The order addresses concerns over low academic proficiency—citing that 70% of 8th graders are below proficient in reading and 72% in math—and the financial strain caused by geographically based school assignments. It promotes the expansion of K-12 scholarship programs, allowing families to select the best educational settings for their children, including private and faith-based schools, thereby fostering competition among public schools. 

To implement this vision, the executive order directs several federal departments to take specific actions: 

• The Department of Education is tasked with issuing guidance on utilizing federal funds to support educational choice initiatives and prioritizing such programs in discretionary grants. 
• The Departments of Labor and Education are to review their grant programs and recommend ways to expand education freedom. 
• Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services will provide guidance on using block grants to support families choosing educational alternatives. 
• The Departments of Defense and the Interior are instructed to develop plans enabling military-connected families and those eligible for Bureau of Indian Education schools to use federal funds for schools of their choice.

On April 23, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth,” aiming to position the United States as a global leader in AI by integrating AI education into the national curriculum. By fostering AI literacy from kindergarten through higher education, the initiative seeks to demystify AI technologies, spark creativity, and prepare students for emerging career opportunities in the order establishes the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education, chaired by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and comprising members from various federal departments, including Education, Labor, and Energy. The task force is charged with coordinating efforts across agencies to promote AI literacy, develop educator training programs, and encourage public-private partnerships that support AI education initiatives. Additionally, the executive order introduces the “Presidential AI Challenge,” a nationwide competition designed to recognize and incentivize innovative AI applications by students and educators. The initiative also calls for the Department of Labor to create AI-related apprenticeships, ensuring that lifelong learners have access to resources necessary for adapting to the evolving technological landscape.