The 2024 election is now in the books and the American people have elected Donald Trump as president in a 312-226 electoral college victory. This was a historic and chaotic election, with President Joe Biden dropping out a mere 107 days before the election which forced Vice President Kamala Harris into running the shortest campaign in major political party history. Trump has joined Grover Cleveland as the only president with non-consecutive terms in American history, making him both the 45th and 47th president once inauguration day rolls around. With the political world in general disarray, the Raider Review looks at what a Trump presidency will look like in regards to education specifically.

The most influential of Trump’s potential education policy is the defunding of the Department of Education.  The DOE sets all the federal regulations on curriculum, school policy, testing, and much more. If these go back to the states, many of these could radically change. Southern states like Louisiana want to reintroduce prayer into schools and Trump himself has advocated for prayer in all schools. This has become a controversial topic with many saying that this would violate freedom of religion. Additionally, Trump has promised to “Cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children” in his official policy platform. Sophomore Nicolas Coman gives his perspective; “ While I feel I dont have much to fear as a Marylander, I cannot say the same for my fellow students in… deep red states who have a nasty record of book burnings, to forcing religion into a public school environment.”

Another one of the DOE’s major roles is as the handler of federal student loans, which make up the vast majority of student loans. This is extremely poignant to high school students as the prospect of paying 10s of thousands of dollars for a college education looms. Evidently, the average high school student will most likely have to deal with the DOE. So, if it is defunded, where will they go? The private sector currently only holds 8 percent of student loans and is unequipped to handle an influx of students seeking loans. Lenders like Naviant (which the Department of Education outsources to) are extraordinarily predatory and are only kept in check by the reins of the DOE. This could lead to huge problems for students, particularly those of lower socioeconomic status that desperately need a student loan system that is functional in order to achieve higher education. 

Student concerns about the upcoming Trump presidency outside of the scope of education are also pertinent. Coman comments, “We need to…be ready to stand up for our friends and peers who are members of the LGBTQ community, part of a minority community, or who are vulnerable right now.” Many students are worried and scared about the upcoming presidency and the future of this country. This is an unprecedented time for America, with a Republican supermajority. The Democratic party is at its weakest point in years and must stand together through what will undoubtedly be a tultmous 4 year presidency, regardless of policy.