THE GREAT EDUCATION HEIST
TRUMP, MUSK AND THE DOGE BOYS ARE PLAYING MONOPOLY WITH OUR SCHOOLS
In a move that feels like it was brainstormed during a poker game at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump has reportedly signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. Yes, you read that right. The federal agency responsible for ensuring every child has access to quality education is now on the chopping block. The Department of Education, which oversees everything from student loans to special education programs, is apparently too much of a burden for the "small government, big yachts" crowd.
And who’s cheering this on? A cast of characters that sounds like the lineup for a dystopian reality show—Trump, Elon Musk, and the so-called "Doge Boys." Together, they seem to be on a mission to turn public services into private profit machines faster than you can say, “voucher program.”
A Return to the Wild West of Education?
Let’s break this down. The Department of Education isn’t just some bureaucratic paper-pushing machine. It’s the lifeline for millions of students across the country. Through programs like Title I, it provides funding to schools in low-income areas, attempting to level the playing field in a nation where educational opportunities are often dictated by your ZIP code. Without it, rich districts will thrive on their property tax-funded schools while poorer areas are left with crumbling buildings and outdated textbooks. It's basically "The Hunger Games," but with algebra.
And let’s not forget IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), which ensures that students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education. Scrapping the Department of Education is like taking the accessibility ramp off a school building and replacing it with a sign that says, “Good luck.”
Oh, and then there’s the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which enforces laws against discrimination in schools. Without it, who’s going to ensure that schools don’t suddenly decide to bring back segregation-era policies under the guise of “local control”? This isn’t just about education—it’s about civil rights, equity, and the kind of society we want to live in.
Mindless Cuts or Master Plan?
The justification for this move? Efficiency, of course! It’s the same argument used every time someone wants to gut a public service—cut costs, streamline operations, and let the states handle it. But let’s be real: this isn’t about efficiency. It’s about ideology. It’s about privatization. It’s about handing over public education to private companies who see students not as learners but as dollar signs.
Imagine a world where your child’s education is determined by how much profit their school can generate. Where vouchers redirect public funds to private schools that aren’t held to the same standards as public ones. Where corporations swoop in to offer “solutions” that conveniently come with hefty price tags. It’s like turning your local school into a franchise of McEducation—“Would you like fries with your standardized test?”
The "Doge Boys" and Their Privatization Dream
And then there’s Elon Musk, who seems to be moonlighting as an education policy advisor between launching rockets and tweeting memes. Musk has long been a critic of traditional education systems, favoring tech-driven alternatives like his experimental Ad Astra school. But while innovation is great, dismantling an entire federal department isn’t exactly the same as upgrading your Tesla software.
The Doge Boys—an unofficial nickname for a group of wealthy libertarian tech enthusiasts—are also reportedly in favor of this move. Their vision for America seems to involve dismantling every public institution and replacing it with blockchain-powered alternatives. Because nothing says “quality education” like paying your tuition in cryptocurrency.
The Fallout: Who Loses?
If this plan goes through (and that’s a big “if,” given that Congress would need to approve it), the consequences will be catastrophic. Vulnerable populations—low-income students, students with disabilities, and students from marginalized communities—will bear the brunt of these changes. These are kids who are already fighting an uphill battle in a system stacked against them. Taking away federal oversight and funding is like pulling the rug out from under them while they’re still trying to find their footing.
And let’s not forget the economic impact. The Department of Education manages over $1.6 trillion in federal student loans. Without it, who’s going to oversee this massive financial system? Are we just going to hand it over to Wall Street and hope for the best? Because that worked out so well in 2008.
Resistance Is Not Futile
The good news is that this plan isn’t going unchallenged. Education unions, advocacy groups, and Democratic state attorneys general are gearing up for a fight. They’ve already pointed out that dismantling the Department of Education would require Congressional approval—a tall order in a divided government.
Critics argue that this move is part of a broader agenda outlined in far-right plans like Project 2025, which prioritize privatization and tax cuts for the wealthy over public welfare. It’s not just about education; it’s about reshaping America into a country where public services are replaced by profit-driven enterprises.
A Call to Action
So what can we do? For starters, we can stop treating education like it’s a line item on a budget spreadsheet and start treating it like the fundamental human right it is. We can hold our elected officials accountable and demand that they prioritize students over shareholders. And we can remind ourselves—and each other—that America is at its best when it lifts up its most vulnerable, not when it leaves them behind.
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about schools or budgets or executive orders. It’s about what kind of country we want to be. Do we want to be a nation that invests in its future or one that auctions it off to the highest bidder? Do we want to be a society that values equity and opportunity or one that doubles down on inequality?
The choice is ours. Let’s make it wisely. And maybe leave the Doge Boys out of it this time.
In Response to Reported Executive Order, School Defenders Vow Uprising as Trump Targets Public Education | Common Dreams https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-executive-orders-department-of-education
Trump administration live updates: President to order dismantling of Education Department at White House event https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-administration-education-department-immigration-live-updates-rcna196782
Donald Trump to sign executive order aiming to shut down Department of Education – US politics live https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/mar/20/donald-trump-executive-order-department-of-education-us-politics-latest-updates-news
Trump to sign order calling for shutdown of Education Department – NBC Los Angeles https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/trump-executive-order-education-department-shutdown/3658832/
What does the Department of Education do? | USAFacts https://usafacts.org/explainers/what-does-the-us-government-do/agency/us-department-of-education/
