Federal

Education news, analysis, and opinion about federal education policies and federal officials.
  • Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, March 4, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. Trump will deliver remarks Tuesday, April 4, in Florida after his scheduled arraignment in New York on charges related to hush money payments, his campaign announced Sunday.
    President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference on March 4, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. His administration has abruptly canceled dozens of contracts for education research.
    Alex Brandon/AP
    Federal Trump Admin. Suddenly Cancels Dozens of Education Department Contracts
    The Trump administration abruptly terminated dozens of contracts financed by the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education.
    Alyson Klein, February 10, 2025
    4 min read
    From left, Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency nominee; Kash Patel, FBI director nominee; Pete Hegseth, secretary of defense nominee; and Linda McMahon, education secretary nominee; gesture after the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
    From left, Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; Kash Patel, nominee to serve as FBI director nominee; Pete Hegseth, secretary of defense; and Linda McMahon, nominee to serve as education secretary gesture after President Donald Trump's inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2025. McMahon will appear before senators on Thursday for her confirmation hearing.
    Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP
    Federal Linda McMahon Will Make Her Case to Lead Ed. Dept. as Trump Tries to Shrink It
    The wrestling mogul Trump has selected to serve as education secretary will likely have to answer for moves the president has already made.
    Brooke Schultz, February 10, 2025
    4 min read
    The exterior of the Department of Education Building in Washington, DC on Thursday, December 14, 2017.
    The exterior of the Department of Education Building in Washington, DC on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing an executive order that would lay the groundwork to eliminate the department.
    Swikar Patel/Education Week
    Federal Trump's 3rd Week: Restrictions on Trans Athletes and Moves to Gut the Ed. Dept.
    In his third week, the president continued his foray into education, gearing up to shrink the U.S. Department of Education.
    Brooke Schultz, February 7, 2025
    7 min read
    President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women's or girls' sporting events, in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington.
    President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women's or girls' sporting events, in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington.
    Alex Brandon/AP
    Federal Trump Threatens Funds to Schools That Let Trans Athletes Compete on Girls' Teams
    The sweeping order is a reversal from the Biden administration, and continues efforts from Trump to roll back protections for transgender youth and adults.
    Brooke Schultz, February 5, 2025
    4 min read
    The U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., is pictured on Feb. 21, 2021.
    The U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., is pictured on Feb. 21, 2021. President Donald Trump could issue an executive order to downsize the department. It would have limitations.
    Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via AP
    Federal Can Trump Ax the Education Department Without Congress?
    Trump has been flexing his power through executive orders, and there's the potential for one targeting the Education Department.
    Brooke Schultz, February 5, 2025
    7 min read
    Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., speaks during an event at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit on Dec. 9, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
    Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., speaks at the U.N. Climate Summit on Dec. 9, 2023, in Dubai. Walberg, the newly minted chair of the U.S. House's education and workforce committee, said at a Tuesday event that he wouldn't stand in the way of President Donald Trump's efforts to diminish or close the U.S. Department of Education.
    Joshua A. Bickel/AP
    Federal Top House Lawmaker Supports Trump's Bid to 'Depower' Education Department
    The House education committee chairman believes "even the best-meaning bureaucrat" can't understand what's happening in local schools.
    Alyson Klein, February 4, 2025
    5 min read
    Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla.
    Donald Trump arrives at an election night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Trump's second week in the White House featured his first direct foray into policymaking aimed directly at schools.
    Evan Vucci/AP
    Federal Title IX, School Choice, ‘Indoctrination’—How Trump Took on Schools in Week 2
    It was a week in which the newly inaugurated president began wholeheartedly to act on his agenda for schools.
    Brooke Schultz, January 31, 2025
    8 min read
    Collage image of former President G.W. Bush signing NCLB bill.
    Liz Yap/Education Week and Canva
    Federal Then & Now Why Can't We Leave No Child Left Behind ... Behind?
    The law and its contours are stuck in our collective memory. What does that say about how we understand K-12 policy?
    Evie Blad, January 31, 2025
    6 min read
    President Donald Trump signs a document in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington.
    President Donald Trump signs a document in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington.
    Evan Vucci/AP
    Federal What's in Trump's New Executive Orders on Indoctrination and School Choice
    The White House has no authority over curriculum, and no ability to unilaterally pull back federal dollars, but Trump is toeing the line.
    Brooke Schultz, January 30, 2025
    9 min read
    President Donald Trump, right, arrives in a classroom at St. Andrew Catholic School in Orlando, Fla., on March 3, 2017.
    President Donald Trump visits a classroom at St. Andrew Catholic School in Orlando, Fla., on March 3, 2017. Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 29, 2025, that aims to end what he calls "radical indoctrination" in the nation's schools.
    Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP
    Federal Trump Threatens School Funding Cuts in Effort to End 'Radical Indoctrination'
    An executive order from the president marks an effort from the White House to influence what schools teach.
    Brooke Schultz, January 29, 2025
    6 min read
    Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn is greeted by students at Fairmount Elementary in Bristol, Tenn., on Monday morning, June 14, 2021, during her "Accelerating TN Tour 2021." The students at Fairmount are taking part in the Summer S.T.R.E.A.M. Camp.
    Penny Schwinn is greeted by students at Fairmount Elementary in Bristol, Tenn., on June 14, 2021, during her tenure as Tennessee's education commissioner. Schwinn's nomination to serve as deputy education secretary in President Donald Trump's second term has drawn praise from across the political spectrum.
    David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP
    Federal How the K-12 World Is Reacting to Trump's Pick for the Ed. Dept.'s No. 2 Job
    While Linda McMahon brings a business background, Penny Schwinn brings a long resume in education.
    Brooke Schultz, January 27, 2025
    8 min read
    Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks at a news conference at the Capitol in Washington on March 6, 2021.
    Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks at a news conference at the Capitol in Washington on March 6, 2021. He has criticized the Trump Administration's move in January 2025 to nix a school safety panel created by federal legisation.
    J. Scott Applewhite/AP
    Federal Schumer Tells Trump to Immediately Reinstate School Safety Board
    Trump must immediately reinstate a federal school safety board, Schumer demanded.
    Evie Blad, January 27, 2025
    2 min read
    This combination of photos shows Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, left, and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during an ABC News presidential debate at the National Constitution Center, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia.
    Donald Trump and Kamala Harris participate in the ABC News presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Sept. 10, 2024. Supporters of both candidates say that they didn't hear enough about education during the election.
    Alex Brandon/AP
    Federal A Divided Electorate Agrees on One Thing: Education Didn’t Get Enough Airtime
    A newly released poll finds voters wanted to hear more.
    Alyson Klein, January 24, 2025
    1 min read
    President-elect Donald Trump speaks at meeting of the House GOP conference, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington.
    Donald Trump speaks at meeting of the House GOP conference, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. He returned to the White House this week, taking a flurry of executive actions, some of which could affect schools.
    Alex Brandon/AP
    Federal Here Are Trump's First-Week Actions That Could Affect Schools
    There's been a lot to keep track of during Trump's first week back in the White House. Here's how it all could affect schools.
    Brooke Schultz, January 24, 2025
    8 min read
    Image of a school hallway with icons representing lockdowns, SRO, metal detectors.
    via Canva
    Federal Trump Admin. Axes Newly Created School Safety Board
    The Trump administration disbanded a board that advises agencies on school safety strategies. Members include parents of school shooting victims.
    Evie Blad, January 23, 2025
    4 min read