By Bryan Newman, CEO of Studio Enterprise
Key Takeaways:
- Trump has found a way to use executive orders to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE) for good—no Congressional approval is required.
- He’s targeting the DOE’s core—people, processes, and systems—leaving changes too profound to reverse.
- The regulatory churn is over—those paying attention will see the potential.
Washington has long been a policy seesaw—new administrations flip the script, rewriting rules with every term. The Department of Education (DOE) has perhaps felt it most, bouncing between mandates as executive orders come and go. But Trump’s return in 2024 does something else entirely. He’s not just tweaking the DOE—he’s dismantling it, piece by piece, with a strategy that doesn’t need Congressional sign-off. Trump is delivering lasting change through executive power alone.
The Old Cycle: Orders That Didn’t Stick
Executive orders have been the go-to move—quick, direct, and easy to undo. The DOE’s seen it all: Obama’s rules on for-profit colleges, Trump’s first-term rollback, Biden’s reset. Round and round it went, with bureaucrats riding out the storm, knowing the next president would hit refresh. It was predictable but frustrating, as the changes never lasted. Trump tried that route in his first go-round before watching it fade as soon as Biden took office. Now he’s playing smarter.
Second Act: Trump’s Strategic Edge
Trump’s 2024 comeback is a rare move—only Grover Cleveland served split terms like this. Last time, he was new to the game, firing off orders that didn’t hold. Four years out of office gave him perspective: the DOE’s a machine that outlasts any sitting president. This time, he’s skipping Congress entirely, using executive orders to write the ending—not just for now, but for keeps. And, not just for DOE, he’s doing it everywhere.
The Plan: Dismantle and Done
Trump’s not waiting for lawmakers. He’s hitting the DOE where it lives—cutting staff, dismantling systems, and scrapping processes. The Institute of Education Sciences, with its stacks of data? Contracts are gone, and access is cut. Starting over would be a nightmare. Federal Student Aid’s $1.8 trillion portfolio? Send it to another federal agency, reducing the DOE’s responsibility. Other pieces? Handoff to the states. What’s left? Professional, predictable processes that can be relied upon and the end of business prevention teams gumming up the works. It’s a calculated takedown. People scattered. Data lost. Systems turned down. It’s impossible for the next guy to put Humpty Dumpty back together again – all without a single congressional vote.
Orders That Endure
Here’s the twist: Trump’s making executive orders stick. Historically, they’re short-lived—next admin, new pen. Not now. By removing the people who run it, the tech that tracks it, and the workflows that glue it together, he’s crafting a shift that’s tough to unwind. Last term, he saw bureaucrats stall, and Biden erase his work. This time, he’s leaving nothing in the cupboard – a leaner DOE, locked in place.
The Shift: A Fresh Horizon
The DOE’s endless rule-swinging has chased away investors and cost a generation’s worth of innovation. Now that’s finished. With its core gutted, the sector will be more transparent and less tangled in oversight. Higher ed has breathing room, and the constant back-and-forth is in the rear-view mirror. For those watching closely, it’s a signal: this isn’t temporary chaos—it’s a new landscape, built to last.
The Wrap: A Lasting Move
Trump’s not fiddling around—he’s got a new paradigm. Executive orders aren’t quick fixes but tools for a permanent reset. By dismantling the DOE’s foundation—people, processes, and systems—he’s cementing a simpler future. The regulatory merry-go-rounds stopped, and what’s left is a clean shot at progress. Sharp eyes will spot the upside in this steady, open lane.
About Bryan Newman
Bryan Newman is the dynamic CEO of Studio Enterprise, a leading education services platform providing shared services to colleges and universities. With over 25 years of extensive experience in higher education and strategic business operations, Bryan has a proven track record of driving innovation, growth and transformation across various educational institutions and companies.