Education Should Empower Students, Not Serve Political Agendas

President Trump once famously said that he likes poorly educated people. His policies run the risk of creating more of them in the U.S.

Education should be about giving students the tools to build their future, not scoring political points. Yet, Donald Trump’s education agenda prioritizes ideology over student success. His proposals, from eliminating the Department of Education to defunding public schools and restricting academic freedom, undermine the very foundation of education.

The Assault on Education

Instead of expanding access and improving quality, these policies would harm the most vulnerable students, widen inequality, and weaken the economy. Rather than dismantling public education, we should strengthen it—making it more inclusive, effective, and future-focused. A weaker school system helps no one except those seeking to use education as a political weapon.

For years, far-right groups like the Heritage Foundation have pushed the idea that universities are breeding grounds for leftist ideology (Heritage Foundation). Now, Trump and his allies have extended this fight to K-12 schools, advocating for drastic policies such as eliminating the Department of Education, which would shift control entirely to states and create massive disparities in funding and school quality. They also want to divert public school funding to private and religious institutions through vouchers, stripping public schools of essential resources (The New Yorker). In addition, they aim to control what students learn by banning discussions of race, gender, and diversity while rolling back civil rights protections, making it even harder for marginalized students to receive an equal education. While Trump claims these moves will “fix” education, they would instead turn schools into ideological battlegrounds and limit students' ability to think critically and engage with the world around them. After all, the goal of education is to prepare students for real life—not a political purity test.

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Trump and his conservative allies have long argued that eliminating the Department of Education would improve schools. In reality, this move would devastate students who rely on federal programs for access to quality education. Without the department, Pell Grants and subsidized loans could disappear, making college unaffordable for millions (Investopedia). Special education services would weaken, leaving students with disabilities without the necessary support. Civil rights protections would erode, exposing minority, LGBTQ+, and disabled students to greater discrimination with fewer avenues for recourse (Brookings Institution).

The last Republican administration before Trump, George W. Bush’s, attempted to address these inequalities through national standards under No Child Left Behind. However, after 9/11, education reform lost momentum. Without federal oversight, gaps in funding, special education, and teacher pay would widen, leaving millions of students behind (National Public Radio). Wealthy states would maintain well-funded schools, while poorer states—many of which already struggle with underfunded schools—would fall even further behind, worsening existing inequalities. The idea that every state will suddenly prioritize education out of sheer goodwill is as naive as assuming kids will voluntarily do their homework without a deadline.

Trump’s push to defund public education is just as harmful. By promoting school vouchers, he prioritizes private and religious institutions over the public school system that serves the majority of American children. Redirecting public funds would lead to larger class sizes, fewer teachers, outdated materials, and deteriorating school buildings (Express News). Rural students, who often lack access to private schools, would suffer the most. The result would be a widening educational quality and opportunity gap, where wealthier families benefit while lower-income students are left behind. Despite its flaws, the U.S. public school system remains a global leader, a driver of economic growth, and one of the country’s best tools for upward mobility. Gutting it serves political agendas, not students.

Beyond defunding, Trump’s education policies would impose rigid ideological restrictions on what can be taught. His agenda includes banning subjects deemed “woke,” such as systemic racism and gender studies, which would limit students’ exposure to complex social issues and diverse perspectives. His plans to cut funding and alter accreditation standards to punish universities for perceived ideological bias threaten academic freedom. State-imposed curriculum changes would restrict what students can learn, discouraging independent thought and critical analysis. Education should foster curiosity and intellectual growth, not enforce a single political viewpoint. If students only learn what politicians approve, they might as well be handed textbooks with half the pages ripped out.

The long-term consequences of Trump’s education policies would be disastrous. By cutting federal funding and favoring privatization, his approach would deepen inequality, leaving struggling communities without the resources to educate the next generation. A weaker education system would also damage the economy by reducing research and workforce development investment. Cutting university research funding would slow innovation in fields like medicine, technology, and engineering, while fewer skilled graduates would make the U.S. less competitive globally. Employers would struggle to fill high-skill jobs, ultimately leading to economic stagnation.

A Better Path Forward

Instead of dismantling education, policymakers should focus on real solutions that strengthen and modernize the system. Investing in early childhood education has been proven to improve long-term student outcomes. Increasing teacher pay and support would help attract and retain high-quality educators. Expanding student aid and loan forgiveness would make higher education more accessible, ensuring a stronger and better-prepared workforce. Strengthening vocational and technical training would provide alternative career paths for students who don’t pursue traditional four-year degrees. Bridging the digital divide would ensure that all students, regardless of income or location, have access to essential learning technology. The priority should always be to create an education system that prepares students for the future, not one that serves the political ambitions of those in power. Maybe, just maybe, we should focus on teaching kids skills they’ll actually use—like how to understand a mortgage or spot misinformation—rather than filtering their education through a political lens.

Trump’s education policies have nothing to do with improving schools—they are about scoring points to fit a political agenda. The consequences would be dire: fewer student opportunities, a weaker economy, and deeper inequality. Instead of tearing down public education, America must invest in a system that empowers students, promotes independent thought, and prepares the next generation to succeed. The battle over education isn’t just about schools—it’s about ensuring the country remains strong, competitive, and fair for all.

Robert Cropf is a professor of political science at Saint Louis University.