President Donald Trump has said that the U.S. Department of Education will be abolished.
Trump said that the dismantling of the agency would come in two parts – an executive order to wind down the department's work and, later, pushing Congress to pass legislation to officially abolish the cabinet-level department.
The department was established in 1979 by an act of Congress during the Jimmy Carter administration.
Alabama State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey says that the department's abolition would also require an act of Congress. He does not currently see congressional support for an act to abolish the cabinet-level department.
"What could happen first may include dramatic changes to the department. Some spending could be sent to the state as block grants. Some functions could be transferred to other departments. Other programs could be abolished," Mackey explained.
Mackey told 1819 News that he and the Alabama State Department of Education are in a holding pattern until actual changes take place and guidance is received.
"We have not received any guidance on any steps that Alabama needs to take at this time," he stated.
Trump nominated Linda McMahon of Connecticut, his first-term Small Business Administration director, to be the second-term Secretary of Education. She has yet to go before Senate hearings in the confirmation process. She is a former member of the Connecticut State Board of Education and Republican U.S. Senate candidate.
Trump told reporters that he encouraged McMahon, "I hope you do a great job and put yourself out of a job. I want her to put herself out of a job."
Trump says the federal government shouldn't play a role in education.
"We spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, and we're ranked at the bottom of the list, we're ranked very badly," he added.
Jim' Zig' Zeigler writes about Alabama's people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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