CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – With inauguration just around the corner, it will soon be time for president-elect Donald Trump to make good on his campaign promises. If successful, one of those would have big impacts on University of Virginia.
The president-elect previously stated plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a nearly 46-year-old federal department first created under President Jimmy Carter’s administration, in favor of state control of education. However, doing so would be tough.
“The famous last words, ‘But it would be difficult,’” said Larry Sabato, director of the UVA Center for Politics.
Trump saying he wants to do away with the federal department is one thing, but Sabato says actually doing it is a completely another.
“I’m sure there’ll be rhetorical support for it,” Sabato said. “Easy on the campaign trail, doing it once you get into office is really difficult.”
Sabato said the Congressional majority Republicans hold is likely too slim for a bill axing the federal education department to pass through.
“Out of the 220, approximately,” Sabato said of the House of Representatives, “a dozen or so that would not be in favor of that for one reason or maybe their districts are particularly helped by this program or that program within the department. The Democrats would vote unanimously against.”
In the Senate, those numbers are just as unfavorable for the hypothetical bill.
“If you need 60 votes, there are only 53 Republicans. So where do the other seven Democratic votes come from?” Sabato said.
The only other option available to Trump would be to sign an executive order, which Sabato predicts could be blocked by the Supreme Court. He said neither path forward plays well for Republicans.
“You’re inviting problems for yourself that you will have to answer for in the next campaign,” Sabato said, “and politicians tend to avoid that.”
As for how impactful the move would be if successful, the University of Virginia alone receives millions from the U.S. Department of Education for financial aid and research.
“They work with higher education closely, not just the education schools around the country, but they also provide funding at various levels for universities, public and private,” Sabato said. “So, you know it affects a lot of people.”
Supporters of doing away with the department believe is should be up to the states, with those against the Trump policy believing it is vital.
“Some people would like the changes,” Sabato said. “Others who would be badly hurt would not like it at all.”
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