Federal

Education news, analysis, and opinion about federal education policies and federal officials.
  • President-elect Donald Trump takes the stage before speaking at the FOX Nation Patriot Awards on Dec. 5, 2024, in Greenvale, N.Y.
    President-elect Donald Trump takes the stage before speaking at the FOX Nation Patriot Awards on Dec. 5, 2024, in Greenvale, N.Y. With the frameworks now in place, Trump has laid priorities for education.
    Heather Khalifa/AP
    Federal 5 Trump Education Priorities for a Second Term
    With key players appointed to their cabinet positions, the scaffolding for President-elect Donald Trump's second term is taking shape.
    Brooke Schultz, December 6, 2024
    7 min read
    Linda McMahon, former Administrator of Small Business Administration, speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee.
    Linda McMahon, former Administrator of Small Business Administration, speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. McMahon, Trump's choice to lead the U.S. Department of Education in his second term, has a long history of giving to education causes through her family foundation.
    J. Scott Applewhite/AP
    Federal Here's How Much Linda McMahon's Foundation Has Donated to Education Causes
    The president-elect's pick for education secretary has long given to education causes through her family foundation.
    Brooke Schultz, December 5, 2024
    5 min read
    Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., Chair of the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, speaks during a hearing on antisemitism in K-12 public schools, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
    Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., chair of the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, speaks during a hearing on antisemitism in K-12 public schools on May 8, 2024, in Washington. At a hearing on Dec. 4, 2024, the subcommittee discussed civics and government curriculum.
    Jacquelyn Martin/AP
    Federal Republicans Preview Their Education Priorities in a Second Trump Term
    In a hearing, Republicans called for more civics education and expressed concerns over "critical race theory" in schools.
    Brooke Schultz, December 4, 2024
    5 min read
    The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
    Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
    Federal Opinion The Trump Administration Should 'Devolve the Ed Dept.'s Responsibilities to the States'
    After six years helming the House ed. committee, U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx cuts loose on high points and frustrations of her tenure.
    Rick Hess, December 3, 2024
    8 min read
    Small Business Administration administrator Linda McMahon attends a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Aug. 16, 2018, in Washington.
    Linda McMahon attends a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Aug. 16, 2018, in Washington. McMahon, then head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, is President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Education Department in his new administration.
    Andrew Harnik/AP
    Federal What's in the Lawsuit That Alleges Linda McMahon Failed to Protect Children
    The lawsuit filed by former World Wrestling Entertainment workers alleges a culture of acceptance of sexual misconduct.
    Mark Walsh, December 2, 2024
    8 min read
    Cafeteria workers serve student lunches at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood, Calif. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Demand for school lunches has increased after California guaranteed free meals to all students regardless of their family's income.
    Cafeteria workers serve lunches at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood, Calif., on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Demand for school lunches has increased after California guaranteed free meals to all students regardless of their family's income. A federal school lunch provision that makes it easier for public schools to provide universal free meals may be a target for elimination in President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming term if some conservative activists and lawmakers get their way.
    Richard Vogel/AP
    Federal How Trump Could Roll Back Access to Free School Lunches
    Project 2025 and a GOP budget proposal call for axing a federal rule that allows public schools to serve free meals to all students.
    Evie Blad, November 26, 2024
    5 min read
    People walk outside the U.S Capitol building in Washington, June 9, 2022.
    People walk outside the U.S Capitol building in Washington, June 9, 2022. Legislation has been introduced in the Senate to abolish the Department of Education.
    Patrick Semansky/AP
    Federal A Bill to Kill the Education Department Is Already Filed. Here's What It Says
    The bill represents another attempt at a long-term Republican goal.
    Brooke Schultz, November 25, 2024
    6 min read
    Federal Video Linda McMahon: 5 Things to Know About Trump's Choice for Education Secretary
    President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate former pro-wrestling CEO Linda McMahon to lead the education department.
    Evie Blad & Lauren Santucci, November 21, 2024
    1 min read
    Linda McMahon, former Administrator of Small Business Administration, speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee.
    Linda McMahon speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. McMahon has been selected by President-elect Trump to serve as as the next secretary of education.
    J. Scott Applewhite/AP
    Federal The K-12 World Reacts to Linda McMahon, Trump's Choice for Education Secretary
    Some question her lack of experience in education, while supporters say her business background is a major asset.
    Brooke Schultz, November 20, 2024
    7 min read
    President Donald Trump listens during a "National Dialogue on Safely Reopening America's Schools," event in the East Room of the White House, on July 7, 2020, in Washington.
    President Donald Trump listens during a "National Dialogue on Safely Reopening America's Schools," event in the East Room of the White House on July 7, 2020, in Washington. He returns to power with more momentum than ever behind policies that allow public dollars to pay for private school education.
    Alex Brandon/AP
    Federal What a National School Choice Program Under President Trump Might Look Like
    School choice advocates—and detractors—see a second Trump term as the biggest opportunity in decades for choice at the federal level.
    Alyson Klein, November 20, 2024
    8 min read
    Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington on Oct. 3, 2018.
    Linda McMahon speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington on Oct. 3, 2018, when she was serving as head of the Small Business Administration during President Trump's first administration. McMahon is now President-elect Trump's choice for U.S. secretary of education.
    Susan Walsh/AP
    Federal 5 Things to Know About Linda McMahon, Trump's Pick for Education Secretary
    President-elect Donald Trump’s selection, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment has long spoken favorably about school choice.
    Brooke Schultz, November 20, 2024
    7 min read
    Small Business Administration Administrator Linda McMahon speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump in Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Friday, March 29, 2019.
    Then-SBA Administrator Linda McMahon speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Friday, March 29, 2019. Trump has tapped McMahon to serve as education secretary in his second term.
    Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
    Federal Trump's Education Secretary Pick Is Linda McMahon, Former WWE CEO
    McMahon led the Small Business Administration in Trump's first term and is co-chair of the president-elect's transition team.
    Brooke Schultz, November 19, 2024
    6 min read
    Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Walker, Mich.
    Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks before President-elect Donald Trump at a campaign event on Sept. 27, 2024 in Walker, Mich. Trump has selected Kennedy to serve as secretary of health and human services in his second term.
    Carlos Osorio/AP
    Federal What Could RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary Mean for School Vaccine Requirements?
    The vaccine skeptic in line to lead the mammoth federal agency could influence schools' vaccine rules, even though they're set by states.
    Matthew Stone, November 15, 2024
    6 min read
    Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks on crime and safety during a campaign event at the Livingston County Sheriff's Office, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Howell, Mich.
    Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks on crime and safety during a campaign event at the Livingston County Sheriff's Office, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Howell, Mich.
    Evan Vucci/AP
    Federal Can Trump Force Schools to Change Their Curricula?
    Trump's bid to take money from schools that teach "critical race theory" or pass policies for transgender kids raises legal complexities.
    Alyson Klein, November 14, 2024
    9 min read
    Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event, Sept. 27, 2024 in Walker, Mich.
    Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event, Sept. 27, 2024 in Walker, Mich.
    Carlos Osorio/AP
    Federal Trump Chooses Anti-Vaccine Activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary
    Kennedy has espoused misinformation around vaccine safety, including pushing a discredited theory that childhood vaccines cause autism.
    The Associated Press, November 14, 2024
    2 min read