President Trump signed an executive order directing the closure of the U.S. Department of Education. The order instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to dismantle the department and “return authority to state and local communities”. While the order states that the federal government will maintain essential functions such as Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell Grants, and support for students with disabilities, it will exacerbate educational inequalities and disrupt the administration of vital programs. Concerns have been raised about the future management of the federal student loan portfolio, valued at approximately $1.6 trillion, and the enforcement of civil rights protections in education.