Pushback Against the Dept. of Ed. Did Not Begin with Trump
By Elena Chin
“Education is the principal responsibility of local school systems, teachers, parents, citizen boards, and state governments.” — Ronald Reagan
Calls to reduce or eliminate the Department of Education predate President Trump by nearly two centuries. The role of the federal government in education has long been a highly debated topic. In fact, the establishment of the original Department of Education under President Andrew Johnson in 1867 sparked immediate controversy, despite the agency’s limited authority, which focused solely on collecting statistics and sharing educational best practices nationwide. By 1868, the department was downgraded to the Office of Education and placed under the Department of the Interior, as many lawmakers and citizens feared government overreach and the erosion of powers reserved for the states.
