"President Donald Trump is considering steps to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, with potential executive action coming as early as this month," USA Today reports.

..."But the GOP has a slim majority on Capitol Hill, and galvanizing support for such a controversial measure wouldn't be easy. Republicans don't appear to have the votes, though that could change, according to Karen McCarthy, the vice president of public policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

The Education Department, which has no say in school curriculum, plays a major role in shielding students from discrimination. It also protects them from predatory colleges and holds higher education institutions accountable for ensuring their degrees provide a good return on investment.

It oversees nearly $2 trillion in federal student loans, a figure on par with some of the biggest banks. Moving those funds to a different agency such as the Treasury Department, which Republicans have proposed, would be no small feat, McCarthy said.

'Nobody could really imagine that Chase could fold into Citibank quickly or easily,' she said. 'I don't know why people are thinking that the federal student loan portfolio could easily move.'"

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 2/3/2025