# What does the Department of Education do? What to know as Trump prepares order to eliminate it

### Key Points
- The Department of Education is a federal agency responsible for overseeing K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.
- The agency is tasked with promoting student achievement, ensuring equal access to education for all students, and helping to afford education for students.
- The agency also helps in the administration of student aid, loans, and grants.

### The Purpose of the Department of Education
- Ensuring K-12 schools comply with federal laws to receive funding.
- Overseeing the country's colleges and universities, ensuring they are in compliance with federal statutes.
- Helping to ensure that colleges and universities meet the legal requirements.
- Providing financial aid to students.

### History of the Department of Education
- The original Department of Education was created in 1867 to collect information on schools to help the country create effective school systems.
- The mission of the agency expanded and changed during World War II and the civil rights movements.
- Congress elevated the Department to a Cabinet level agency in 1980.

### Department of Education Receives Funding
- The Department of Education received $241.66 billion in budgetary resources in the 2024 fiscal year, which constitutes 2% of the entire federal budget.
- The funding goes to the Office of Federal Student Aid, which received $179.65 billion.

### The Senate Confirmed Education Secretary
- The Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, has acknowledged that the agency will not be abolished entirely due to the need for Congress to approve an executive order.
- The Senate confirmed McMahon as the Secretary of Education with a 51-45 vote, highlighting the complexity of the process.

### Potential Executive Order
- A preliminary executive order calling for the elimination of the Department of Education has been drafted.
- The Senate has begun the process of confirming the order, though several reports suggest that a compromise may be needed to ensure Congress approves the order.

### Article Summary
The Department of Education is a federal agency that plays a crucial role in both public K-12 school education and higher education. It oversees the federal government's role in ensuring equitable access and aid for schools and colleges. The agency is a robust component of the federal government's education infrastructure, with a significant budget and a diverse set of responsibilities.

### Additional Information
- The Senate confirmed Republican donor and former wrestling executive Linda McMahon to head the Department of Education with a 51-45 vote.
- The Education Department received $241.66 billion in budgetary resources in the 2024 fiscal year.
- The funding goes to the Office of Federal Student Aid, which received $179.65 billion.

### Disclaimer
The content provided is a summary based on the information available at the time of publication and may not reflect the most recent updates. For the most current information, please refer to official sources and platforms.
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