Is Demolishing The Department Of Education Smart Or Dumb?

Trump’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education has sparked panic—but does the DOE even work? After trillions spent, U.S. rankings have slid: 10th to 13th in reading, 18th to 27th in math (lagging Estonia), and 14th to 12th in science since 2000. Costs soared from $53.6B (1980, adjusted) to $268B today, yet we’re less competitive globally. Equality gains? Modest—black-white gaps narrowed slightly, but not enough. States could take over, redistributing billions via school choice, though risks remain. Lunch programs, special ed, and loans stay safe elsewhere. Is this doom or a drastic fix? Let’s cut through the fearmongering.