What Does Trump’s Executive Order Seeking to End Education Dept. Mean for Santa Barbara Schools?

While Only Congress Has Legal Authority to Shutter Department, Move Puts Federal Funding in Jeopardy for Schools and Colleges

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday demanding that the Department of Education be “eliminated” and education oversight be put in the hands of the states. | Credit: Courtesy

[Updated: Fri., Mar. 21, 9:35am]

Threats to federal funding have long been looming for California’s educational institutions, but President Donald Trump fed the beast on March 20 when he signed an executive order demanding that the Department of Education be “eliminated” and education oversight be put in the hands of the states. While only Congress has the legal authority to shutter the department, the move puts federal funding in jeopardy for Santa Barbara’s schools and colleges.

“The U.S. Department of Education provides critical services and programs for students, educators, and educational institutions nationwide, including the University of California,” said Stett Holbrook, a spokesperson for the University of California. “We have serious concerns about the implications of the executive order and its potential impact on the University of California system, our K-12 partners and the individuals we serve.”

The Department of Education’s primary functions are to disperse federal funds to schools and deal with civil rights concerns stemming from the fundamental right to education.

Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido said in a statement that they are actively monitoring the situation and working with state and local leaders to understand the potential implications locally.

She noted that federal education dollars have long supported the “most vulnerable and underserved students,” such as low-income students, those with disabilities and English language learners.

In his announcement, Trump did pledge to preserve funding for critical programs, including Title I programs and support for English learners, while distributing those funds to other agencies and shifting oversight to the states.

For the County Education Office, federal funds make up approximately 15 percent of their $148 million operating budget (about $22 million). For individual school districts, that number varies. Santa Barbara Unified, the largest South County district, receives about $7 million in federal funds each year.

“The order suggests a fundamental change in how public education is managed at the national level, indicating a move away from federal oversight and support,” Salcido said. “We understand that this news creates uncertainty and unknowns that can be stressful for our school communities and the students we serve. I want to reassure our community that in Santa Barbara County, we remain committed to supporting and serving our schools, students, and families.”

Higher education in Santa Barbara could also be affected by the order.

UC Santa Barbara received $66.56 million from the Department of Education in 2024, mostly in the form of Pell Grants, which are granted to low-income students to assist with tuition costs. The university also received $15.9 million from the department for research projects during the 2024 fiscal year.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement, “Closing the department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them — we will continue to support K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs.” By this logic, federal student financial aid should be left out of the executive order, as was the case when President Trump announced an initial federal funding freeze at the end of January (which was rescinded the following day).

However, discretionary funds, including research grants, could be first on the chopping block.

Santa Barbara City College received about $15.6 million in federal funding for the 2024 fiscal year. However, the majority of their funding comes from the state, SBCC spokesperson Jordan Killebrew explained, and would remain safe.

Hypothetically, the Department of Education’s responsibilities would be delegated to other government agencies that have managed to stay afloat. For example, Trump announced on Friday morning that he would put the country’s student loan portfolio into the hands of the Small Business Administration, and oversight of special education services would fall with the Health and Human Services Department headed by Trump-appointee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. But with mass layoffs affecting nearly all sectors of the federal government, it is unclear whether these additional tasks would overwhelm the diminishing number of government employees.

The Department of Education is not new to increasing responsibilities with fewer employees. The department closed California’s regional branch of the Office for Civil Rights, along with six other states’, after launching civil rights investigations into 60 universities — including UCSB — over allegations of unchecked anti-Semitism on the campuses. It’s unclear how the department’s closure could affect the pending investigations.

At this point, Trump’s order shouldn’t effectively change day-to-day operations of schools and colleges. However, the University of California’s cost-cutting measures implemented the day before Trump’s executive order — including a system-wide hiring freeze in anticipation of federal funding cuts — is likely to have effects on UC Santa Barbara’s campus, with hundreds of open positions remaining unfilled.

While some institutions may be battening down the hatches, state officials have been quick to note, again, that Congress alone has the authority to close the department. Still, Santa Barbara Representative Salud Carbajal expressed his concerns about what the executive order might mean for the Central Coast, saying it “poses a serious threat to the future of children, families, and teachers.”

“This dangerous move would strip away vital support for low-income students and children with disabilities, as well as lay off thousands of teachers across the country,” Carbajal said in a statement. “Trump’s order prioritizes tax breaks for billionaires over the education and future of our children. I will continue to fight to protect these crucial resources and ensure our students receive the support they need to succeed.”

State Superintendent Tony Thurmand said California will “continue to challenge these unlawful orders and actions in court,” referencing another ongoing lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s threats to withhold federal funding based on school curriculum.

“At the California Department of Education, we will continue to make strategic investments in progress, prosperity, and opportunities for all students,” Thurmond said in a statement.

“We will not stand idly by while the Trump Administration continues to sow chaos, uncertainty, and interruptions of normal communication surrounding federal education programs. We will combat these attempts to undermine educational equity and opportunity and stay focused on our most important goal: improving educational results for our students.”

This is a developing story. Check back for additional details as they become available.