In 1979, former President Jimmy Carter was instrumental in founding the U.S. Department of Education, a key part of his legacy that the Biden administration recognizes in the wake of his death.

As tributes for the 39th president take place at the U.S. Capitol, the future of the Department of Education encounters significant obstacles. President-elect Donald Trump, due to take office on January 20, has made public statements expressing a desire to “terminate” the department, which he labels as a “bloated and radical bureaucracy.”

This scenario calls for a review of the department’s inception and its development over the past fifty years. Although Trump has yet to provide a concrete plan to gain legislative support for the department’s dissolution, his task may be easier with Republicans holding majorities in both chambers of Congress. In November, Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota suggested legislation aimed at disbanding the department, redistributing its responsibilities among other Cabinet departments—proposals resembling those outlined in Project 2025, a conservative policy initiative.

Trump’s criticisms of the Department of Education reflect historical opposition to its formation. While the U.S. education system largely falls under state and local authority, conservatives have historically resisted any federal involvement in education.

Nevertheless, some of Trump’s education reform ideas would require increased federal involvement, posing a contradiction for conservatives who object to the department but also seek to use it for reform initiatives.

Kevin Welner, an education policy professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, observed historical similarities in the current conversation regarding the agency’s future.

“While history doesn’t repeat itself, it certainly resonates,” he remarked. “We can observe that resonance in present-day discussions.”

Carter’s commitment during his campaign

After Carter’s passing on December 29, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona noted that every initiative from his agency traces back to Carter’s influence.

“President Carter unified vital federal education efforts by establishing the U.S. Department of Education, thus promoting equal access to education at the cabinet level, which is fitting,” Cardona stated.

During his winning campaign for Georgia governor in 1976, Carter frequently expressed his backing for a federal education agency. Although there had been discussions about this for some time, federal oversight of educational policies happened within the larger scope of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

Creating an independent educational agency had long been a primary goal of the National Education Association, the largest teachers’ union in the country, which continues to wield considerable power in Washington, D.C. In September 1976, the union backed Carter, marking its first-ever endorsement in a presidential election.

After assuming office in January 1977, Carter’s vision for the new department took considerable time to realize.

“Like many of his predecessors, he found that his proposals must accommodate various stakeholders,” as noted in a Political Science Quarterly article from 1983.

Carter’s strategy with Congress

In February 1978, President Carter made his case to Congress, which was controlled by Democrats.

He contended that an independent department at the Cabinet level would enable the federal government to effectively communicate with state, local, and private educational institutions to enhance education quality.

Others had previously laid the groundwork for such a change, including Senator Abraham Ribicoff, a Democrat from Connecticut. Deanna Michael, an associate professor at the University of South Florida and author of a book on Jimmy Carter’s educational policies, points out that Ribicoff had personally experienced the limitations of the combined agency as the former secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, which made him an ardent supporter of a dedicated education department.

Despite having notable allies like Ribicoff, Carter faced both internal and external opposition to his plans. Some officials within his administration were hesitant to allocate authority to a new agency, while various outside organizations were against changing the established system.

“People prefer what is familiar over what is uncertain,” they asserted, according to Michael.

Establishing new federal entities requires Congressional approval. For Carter, mustering support in the Senate was somewhat manageable, but the House of Representatives posed a greater challenge.

“House members were more attuned to grassroots opposition to federal oversight, and with biennial elections, they experienced heightened pressure,” explained David Stephens, an Australian bureaucrat, in the Political Science Quarterly article. “Nevertheless, they were also closer to the advocacy groups lobbying for the department, who worked hard to gather enough votes for its success.”

The establishment of the Education Department in 1979

After two years of advocacy, the Senate passed the Department of Education Organization Act on September 24, 1979, with 69 votes in favor. Soon after, the House also approved the act with 215 votes in support. Carter signed the law into effect on October 17.

“I cannot foresee what history will reflect,” he remarked during a ceremony that day, “but my belief is that the best.”

The future of quality of life in America looks uncertain.

Since its establishment in 1980, the Education Department has evolved significantly. While it does not set the curriculum for schools and universities, it has increased its regulatory influence in recent years. The department has the authority to penalize educational institutions that fail to maintain anti-discrimination protections for both students and faculty, and it sets the requirements that colleges must follow to qualify for federal student aid.

The Office of Education became an independent agency in 1965, employing more than 2,000 staff with a budget of $1.5 billion. By mid-2010, it had expanded to approximately 4,300 employees, with a budget soaring to nearly $60 billion. The department’s role is broad, including helping low-income students secure funding for college and managing an enormous $2 trillion in student loans, which is on par with the largest banks’ assets.

Presidential Challenges from Reagan to Trump

Throughout recent decades, every president—including Trump—has leveraged the Education Department to push forward certain educational policies, many of which are often revised or discarded by later administrations.

While some insiders believe that efforts to disband the department are unlikely given the slim Republican majority, the Trump administration has shown interest in scaling back its powers and decreasing its budget. Former Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who was appointed by Trump to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” along with billionaire Elon Musk, seeks to cut what he deems unnecessary government spending, including that of the Education Department.

“Our Department of Education squanders funds without oversight,” Ramaswamy posted on X in November. “The real problem lies with unelected officials.”

After President Carter lost to Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election, Reagan, similar to President Joe Biden, vowed to abolish the Education Department but ultimately did not act on that promise.