Trump proposes dismantling Education Department and shifting school funding to states

President-elect Donald Trump has proposed dismantling the federal Department of Education, which manages significant financial aid and student loan programs. He has appointed Linda McMahon to lead the department, but the dismantling would require congressional action. The Education Department oversees about $1.5 trillion in student loans and administers federal financial aid programs. Trump has criticized current loan forgiveness efforts and has not detailed his plans for managing student debt. Trump aims to change civil rights enforcement in education, targeting diversity policies and proposing to exclude transgender students from protections. He also plans to shift funding for K-12 schools to states, though specifics on this transition remain unclear.