Trump signs order to eliminate US Department of Education, raising questions for North Carolina public schools

Proposed cuts to federal education funding could undo critical support for the state’s 1.5 million public school students.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the closure of the US Department of Education, a move that could have far-reaching consequences for students, teachers, and schools across North Carolina. 

The order argues that federal oversight has failed American students, citing declining test scores and bureaucratic inefficiencies, and asserts that shifting authority to the states will better serve families and communities.  

But education advocates at both the state and national levels have pushed back, warning that dismantling the Department of Education could have devastating outcomes.   

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green, a Democrat, said the order has “significant implications” for the state’s public schools. According to the Department of Public Instruction’s latest report, North Carolina’s public schools received more than $1 billion in federal education funding in the 2024-25 school year, excluding child nutrition.

“While education funding in North Carolina is primarily provided at the state and local levels, federal funding provides 10.9% of the state’s budget for public schools,” Green said in a statement. “Public schools are the heart of our communities, providing essential educational services to our 1.5 million students and serving as a top-five employer in every North Carolina county… These funds are critical for all our students, particularly our most vulnerable, such as those with disabilities and from low-income families.”

In the face of these threats, Green, a former superintendent of Guilford County Schools, reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the future of North Carolina’s students, vowing to continue collaborating with educators, families, and policymakers to ensure that the state’s education system thrives.

RELATED: Public education’s price tag: What North Carolina teachers pay to teach

Many of North Carolina’s smaller school systems already operate on tight budgets, and the loss of federal dollars could mean larger class sizes, reduced staff, and fewer academic opportunities. Special education programs, which receive significant federal support under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, could also be in jeopardy, potentially leaving thousands of North Carolina students with disabilities without necessary services.

Trump’s note to allow Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, a Republican, to take steps to “return authority over education to the states” is especially problematic in North Carolina due to the state’s Republican-led General Assembly prioritizing private school vouchers over funding public education.

In 2023, the legislature approved the expansion of the state’s private school voucher program, allocating hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to private and religious schools while public schools faced staff shortages, crumbling infrastructure, and underfunded special education programs.

READ MORE: NC Republicans vote to expand private school voucher program by $463 million, but refuse to raise teacher pay

Without federal funding to backfill gaps, public school advocates fear that the Republican-led legislature could continue redirecting resources away from public education, leaving North Carolina’s public school students with even fewer resources.

In a statement, Becky Pringle, a Democrat and president of the National Education Association, accused Trump and Musk of aiming “their wrecking ball at public schools and the futures of the 50 million students in rural, suburban, and urban communities across America to pay for tax handouts for billionaires.”

Across the country, thousands of educators, students, and parents have mobilized in response. Pringle noted that families and teachers gathered outside public schools in hundreds of communities on Thursday morning to protest the order, calling for continued federal support for students.

“We won’t be silent as anti-public education politicians try to steal opportunities from our students, our families, and our communities to pay for tax cuts for billionaires,” she said. “Together with parents and allies, we will continue to organize, advocate, and mobilize so that all students have well-resourced schools that allow every student to grow into their full brilliance.”

Trump’s order does not just impact K-12 education. Thousands of North Carolina college students rely on federal Pell Grants and student loans to afford higher education. According to a report, over $300 million in pell grants were distributed to over 30% of North Carolina college students in the 2023-24 academic year. Trump’s directive calls for shifting student loan management away from the federal government.

The Department of Education currently manages a student loan portfolio worth more than $1.6 trillion, but Trump’s order suggests returning those responsibilities to private entities or state-run programs. That shift could lead to changes in repayment plans, debt forgiveness programs, and financial aid accessibility, though details remain unclear.

With legal challenges and logistical hurdles ahead, the future of Trump’s plan remains uncertain. In North Carolina, school leaders, parents, and policymakers are preparing for potential changes.

[Editor’s Note: For clarity, the inclusion of Linda McMahon’s name and position was added to this article.]