APLU Statement on Executive Order to Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education

Washington, DC – APLU President Mark Becker released the following statement on the executive order President Trump signed today proposing the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education.

“Having a well-educated workforce is essential to the prosperity of the United States, driving the nation’s economy forward, improving our collective standard of living, and ensuring the well-being of all Americans.

“The U.S. Department of Education plays the key role in areas such as administering student aid programs that help build the nation’s competitive workforce, administering key programs funded by Congress to increase graduation rates, publishing higher education outcomes data to help students and families make informed decisions, and contributing to evidence-based research that advances teaching and learning. These are critical functions that should continue uninterrupted.

“There also is the need to address past tendencies of the U.S. Department of Education to overreach. As numerous court decisions overturning department actions have made clear, prior administrations exceeded statutory authority at times. Adding to this challenge, there have been too many instances where regulatory efforts substantially overstepped, distracted from the department’s core responsibilities, and drove up costs to deliver education while inhibiting innovation.

“APLU welcomes the opportunity to work with Secretary McMahon and Congress on finding the right balance to ensure the U.S. Department of Education is a positive force for students, families, educators, institutions, and the nation. Refocusing the department on its core mission is necessary, but an overcorrection would harm the national interest.”