How would the EO 14242 impact the students?

On March 20, 2025, Executive Order 14242 was signed by President Donald J. Trump.

Section 2 of this order called for the closing of the Department of Education (ED) and passing authority over to states and local communities.

So, how would this affect students if the ED closed?

First of all, the President could not abolish a federal department alone without the legislation of Congress. Section 2 of Executive Order 14242 states, “The Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.” Although the President gives responsibility to Secretary Linda McMahon, the closing of the ED is not ensured yet.

However, it is still essential to know the impact the ED would bring to students as many worry about the current situation of federal staff readjustment. As a matter of fact, what the ED influences is not the education that students learn, but mainly the funding of postsecondary student lives.

The ED does not directly regulate the curriculums of K–12 schools. The rights belong to each state in setting up their education, and many other rights also remain with the states. Most school funds are directed by state taxes and donations from nonprofit organizations, and federal funds, including food services and health insurance, cover below 10%.

As such, the ED itself does not have much impact on K–12 schools and education. The states are responsible for their schools.

Nonetheless, all federal grants for students beyond the level of K–12 education are given by the ED. Many high school seniors and current college students would worry about the maintenance of Federal Student Aid if the ED closes. Well, there is no need to. The President ensures the continuation of student grants, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, regardless of the closure of the ED.

For now, it doesn’t seem as if the abolishment of the Department of Education would actually impact students directly. Some do worry about the technological problems the FAFSA applications might face as half of the staff population of the ED is demolished, but no other concerns seem to arise regarding students’ education.

For now, it doesn’t seem as if the abolishment of the Department of Education would directly impact students. However, some are concerned about potential technical issues, such as delays in processing FAFSA applications, due to the significant reduction in the Department’s staff. Other than that, no major concerns have been raised.