Schooling Secretary says shutdown proves division is pointless

On Wednesday, the Division of Schooling Secretary Linda McMahon mentioned that the federal shutdown is proof that her division ought to be eradicated, a longtime want of Donald Trump. 

“The Democrat authorities shutdown has compelled companies to guage what federal obligations are really essential for the American individuals. Two weeks in, thousands and thousands of American college students are nonetheless going to highschool, academics are getting paid, and colleges are working as regular,” posted on X, previously often called Twitter. “It confirms what the President has mentioned: the federal Division of Schooling is pointless, and we should always return schooling to the states.”

As of October 17, 2025, the U.S. authorities stays shut down on account of stalled negotiations between Republicans and Democrats over federal spending and the extension of Reasonably priced Care Act medical insurance subsidies. Democrats have refused to move short-term funding payments and not using a assure to increase the subsidies, whereas Republicans proceed to reject that demand. Each chambers of Congress have did not move compromise laws, and lawmakers have recessed till not less than October 20. The shutdown has furloughed a whole bunch of hundreds of federal employees, halted key investigations, and sparked criticism over the administration’s selective funding cuts.

Whereas colleges have remained open throughout the shutdown, the implications of a chronic authorities shutdown have raised considerations, particularly after all the workers of the Workplace of Particular Schooling and Rehabilitative Companies was furloughed.

This comes after greater than 460 Division of Schooling staff had been laid off, elevating questions on how it will impression schooling. Nevertheless, in keeping with McMahon, the reductions won’t burden colleges or college students, and these packages can be the duty of the states.  

“The Division has taken further steps to higher attain American college students and households and root out the schooling paperwork that has burdened states and educators with pointless oversight,” McMahon mentioned, “No schooling funding is impacted by the RIF, together with funding for particular schooling, and the clear CR supported by the Trump Administration will present states and colleges the funding they should assist all college students.”