Rouzer's Push to Dismantle the Department of Education: What’s Really at Stake for North Carolina
When David Rouzer cheered on Trump’s executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, he wasn’t just playing partisan politics—he was gambling with the future of North Carolina’s students, teachers, and entire public school system.
Here’s what he doesn’t want you to consider: In the 2021–22 school year, North Carolina received nearly $4 billion in federal education funds—almost 20% of its total public school revenue. That’s around $2,600 per student. This money isn’t pocket change; it’s the lifeline that keeps critical programs running, especially for students living in poverty or with disabilities. Without the U.S. Department of Education, we lose the agency responsible for managing and distributing these funds fairly and efficiently.
Federal programs like Title I and IDEA are essential. In 2023–24 alone, North Carolina received $528 million in Title I funds to support low-income students and $388 million under IDEA to serve students with disabilities. These dollars provide everything from classroom aides and occupational therapy to essential services that ensure equity for every learner. To pretend we can just “reallocate” these services to other agencies without massive disruption is pure fantasy.
Rouzer says this isn’t about abolishing programs like Pell Grants or student loans—but the Department of Education has already faced drastic cuts under Trump’s leadership. Key support for FAFSA and student loan systems has crumbled, leaving students confused and underserved. What happens when these systems break down entirely? Who picks up the pieces? Spoiler alert: it's not the private sector.
Trump and Rouzer claim the department spreads “woke” ideas, but let’s cut through the noise. The Department of Education enforces civil rights protections for transgender students, students with disabilities, and students of color. Eliminating it means erasing federal oversight for educational equity, plain and simple.
The irony here is that Rouzer sells this as a win for “local control,” but North Carolina ranks near the bottom nationally in state and local education funding. The state already uses a centralized Resource Allocation Model that doesn’t prioritize local decision-making—it’s not built to absorb the fallout from lost federal support. Cutting the department just shifts the burden onto underfunded states like ours without providing the resources to pick up the slack.
Title I and IDEA aren’t just line items—they are legally enshrined programs meant to level the playing field. Project 2025, which Trump and his allies are pushing, wants to convert these into block grants with no strings attached. Translation: states can gut these programs and divert the funds elsewhere. There's nothing “local” about a state government stripping resources from special ed programs or cutting teacher jobs to balance budgets.
David Rouzer has introduced his “States’ Education Reclamation Act” in every session of Congress since he arrived in D.C. It’s not a new idea—it’s a crusade. But stripping down the federal department without a clear, equitable, and accountable replacement isn’t reform. It’s sabotage.
North Carolina public schools, especially in rural and underserved areas, depend on the federal Department of Education. Without it, we lose the systems that protect, support, and uplift students who need it most. Don’t let the slogans fool you. This isn’t about “efficiency” or “returning power to the states.” It’s about shifting responsibility without resources—and it’s our kids who will pay the price.
Hold Rouzer accountable. Call 202-225-2731 and DEMAND ANSWERS!
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