Trump’s War on Education: Why Cuts Labeled As Efficiency Could Destroy Opportunity

I remain attentive to thoughtful perspectives on policy changes impacting our education system. One of the sharpest thinkers I've encountered in this field is Kim Smith, CEO of LearnerStudio. Her analysis of recent Trump administration efforts to reduce dramatically the scope and capacity of the U.S. Department of Education is both balanced and urgently important. She clearly outlines how a careless dismantling of the department could unravel decades of progress and significantly hinder our nation's educational advancement.

Here's Kim Smith in her own words:

Most of y’all know I believe we need bold innovation and change in education to be future-ready. And I believe in parent choice and learner agency.

But I also believe we need national research for learning in the Age of AI.

And I believe in fairness—in the idea that every kid—no matter their zip code or learning needs—deserves a shot at the American Dream.

You’ve probably read about the 50% layoff at the U.S. Department of Education and the administration's goal to dismantle this engine of opportunity.

Did you know that 62% of Americans support a U.S. Department of Education?

Why does this matter? Because the Department of Education isn’t just some random bureaucracy —it oversees investments in our future—our future global competitiveness, our future economic engine, and our future national security—through how we develop our people.

I’m not a fan of bureaucracy, and things need to be fixed… but we need a Department of Education  because:

✅ 1 in 5 kids have disabilities that need support to thrive.

✅ We need data to see what works

✅ 6 million kids rely on Pell Grants for college & good jobs.

✅ 26 million low-income kids—rural, suburban, and urban —depend on Title I for a fighting chance.

✅ To compete globally and maintain national security in the Age of AI, we need robust national investment in learning innovation, research, and data systems.

Why Is This Administration Destroying Data?

What legitimate goal does that serve? It will only make us stupid. How can we learn what works without data?

They’re calling this "efficiency." But this is dismantling opportunity.

This is about who we want to be as a country.
Do we believe in investing in our people for our future?
Or are we OK letting billionaires decide?

If Congress rolls on this, it won’t stop there. They’ve proposed cutting child nutrition too. Imagine: taking food from hungry poor kids so the wealthy can get a bigger tax break... Seriousy? That’s who they are asking us to BE as a country now?

It’s time we ask ourselves: What do I stand for? What is the content of my character? What kind of country do I want to live in? Because this... This isn’t the America we want to be.

Let’s speak up for an America where every kid gets a fair shot.
And where we’re not afraid to gather and publicly share data about education and health and the census…

If we work together to save our public data and the imperfect opportunity engine of public education—then we can put our energy into innovating for the future of learning and the agentic choice parents and learners need—together.

You can find Kim here.