In light of many federal departments getting shut down or losing funding, many students wonder what would be the fate of the Department of Education. Since taking office, President Donald Trump began signing executive orders and instructing his administration to cut funding to many programs that don’t align with his agenda, with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) taking the reins in shutting many of these departments. The Department of Education is in their crosshairs as both Trump and Musk have publicly called for the department to be shuttered since Trump was on the campaign trail, which could have lasting consequences on millions of colleges and students around the country.

The Department of Education is responsible for much more than financial aid programs such as the FASFA, as they are also in charge of ensuring that schools and college campuses are safe and accommodated for all students regardless of sex, race, or financial status through programs such as Title I which provides funds and services to schools in low-income neighborhoods, or protections against sexual discrimination and sexual assault in Title IX. DOGE claimed that it got the Department of Education to eliminate $881 million worth of contracts among other budget cuts aimed at Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) programs and incentives that Trump and his administration have wanted to take down. Trump’s nominee for Education secretary, Linda McMahon, testified to a congressional committee a different story, saying that she would not dismantle the department nor defund it, even telling Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders that she would continue Pell Grants.

Students are skeptical around those claims. Houston native Davet Cabrera, who attends university out of state, believes the department would get slashed like Trump and Musk said, saying that the elimination of the department was “stupid” and that “it’s gonna ruin student’s lives.” Concerns of the elimination of the Department of Education stems to the loss of programs such as Title IX, as HCC student Maria G. comments “Considering how [the Trump administration] are trying to place women back in subservient places and reinforce gender roles, [the loss of Title IX] will only encourage their behavior more since they no longer have to fear consequences.” Not all students see this in the same light, as HCC student Prem R. said that he agreed with DOGE’s claims, saying that he would support a “complete restructuring” of the department to better aid students, but not outright elimination unless the government has a replacement ready to go. One thing these students do agree on is that college tuition remains too expensive, and that the government should do more to alleviate those financial struggles for millions of students around the country.