New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand have raised alarms over the potential elimination of the Department of Education (DOE), a move being considered by former President Donald Trump as part of his broader efforts to downsize the federal government.
The two officials warned that if the DOE were to be dismantled, local governments across New York would be forced to raise property taxes to compensate for the loss of federal education funding.
Federal Education Funding at Risk
Speaking at a press conference, Hochul and Gillibrand detailed the financial impact of such a move. The DOE currently provides $5.5 billion in federal education funding to New York each year, with $3.2 billion going directly into the state budget and an additional $2.3 billion allocated to localities. Without this funding, local governments would have to find alternative ways to sustain their education systems, most likely through higher taxes on property owners.
“For areas outside the city, the largest portion of your local property tax bill is your school taxes,” Hochul explained. “If federal funding disappears, communities will have to make up for it somehow, and that means higher costs for homeowners and businesses.”
Programs at Stake
The DOE oversees numerous federal education programs, many of which could be eliminated or transferred to other agencies if the department were dissolved. Among the programs under threat are:
- Pell Grants, which help 7 million undergraduate students afford college each year
- Free and reduced-price lunch programs for low-income students
- Special education services and teacher training initiatives
Although some programs could potentially be restructured under other departments, the full scope of the changes remains uncertain.
Trump’s Long-Standing Opposition to the Department of Education
Trump has long been vocal about his desire to scale back or eliminate the DOE, arguing that the federal government should not be involved in local education. During a September 2024 campaign rally in Wisconsin, he reiterated his stance, stating, “We will drain the government education swamp and stop the abuse of your taxpayer dollars.”
The DOE was established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter with the goal of ensuring equal access to education across the United States. Since then, it has played a central role in distributing federal funds to schools, enforcing educational policies, and overseeing student aid programs.
Political Tensions and Unanswered Questions
The possibility of eliminating the DOE has deepened partisan tensions in Congress. Hochul directly called on New York’s Republican congressional representatives to clarify their positions on the issue.
“I want to know where New York State Republican members of Congress stand on this,” she stated. “You were elected to represent the people who will be affected by this, especially our children. If you won’t speak up, then maybe it’s time to find another job.”
At this stage, it remains unclear whether Trump would pursue DOE cuts through executive action, legislation, or a combination of both. Likewise, the long-term effects on federal education programs—and the possibility of a restructuring rather than full dissolution of the department—are still up for debate.
