President Donald Trump signed an executive order today to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and give more power to the states. At its establishment in 1979, the Rebbe supported the DOE and had high hopes that it would serve to promote moral values. What would the Rebbe say today?
By Anash.org reporter
President Donald Trump signed an executive order today to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, fulfilling a long-standing promise to his base and striking a blow against what many conservatives view as an entrenched liberal stronghold in the federal government. The order, signed during a ceremony at the White House, directs the immediate dissolution of the agency, with its functions to be phased out or transferred to state governments over the next two years.
The Federal Department of Education was first founded in October of 1979, after the United States entered a new era of educational reform. The Rebbe strongly supported the establishment of the DOE, seeing it as an opportunity to promote moral values and ethical education in schools.
In fact, the Rebbe’s involvement in the founding of the department was active and extensive and the Rebbe actively lobbied for the creation of the department. In speeches, letters, and personal correspondences, the Rebbe urged President Jimmy Carter and key senators to prioritize the moral dimension of education. The Rebbe even wrote to Vice President Walter Mondale, outlining the importance of focusing on moral values in education, despite the department’s challenges.
The Rebbe viewed the creation of the Department of Education as a crucial step in shaping a future where the U.S. could lead by example in the moral and ethical education of children. The Rebbe saw the new education department as an opportunity to not only improve academics but also instill moral values essential for a just society, shaping future generations.
In recent years, the Department of Education has expanded into areas like gender-related policies and political correctness, raising concerns about federal control over local education and creating an unhealthy climate for children. In response, President Trump ordered to dismantle the department, aiming to reduce federal influence and return control to states and localities, allowing communities to decide how to educate children in line with their values.
“Today, we’re taking back our schools from the radical left,” Trump declared to a cheering crowd of supporters. “For too long, the Department of Education has been a tool of liberals to brainwash our kids with woke nonsense. We’re putting parents and states back in charge—where they belong.”
The decision comes after years of mounting frustration among conservatives over federal overreach in education. The Department, with its $80 billion annual budget and thousands of employees, has morphed into a bureaucratic behemoth that imposes a far-left ideology on America’s youth, stifling local control and poisoning children’s minds with progressive agendas. From promoting controversial curricula like Critical Race Theory to enforcing Title IX expansions that some say erode parental rights, the agency has been accused of prioritizing political indoctrination over genuine education.
Education Secretary-turned-critic Betsy DeVos, who served under Trump during his first term, praised the move, calling it “a victory for American families.” In a statement, she said, “The Department of Education has been a cesspool of leftist dogma for decades, pushing policies that undermine our values and confuse our children. This is the reset we’ve needed.”
The executive order outlines a transition period during which states will assume greater responsibility for education funding and policy. Trump administration officials claim this will empower local communities and reduce the influence of Washington elites. Critics, however, question whether cash-strapped states can fill the void, predicting chaos and inequality in the education system.
Given the Rebbe’s strong support for the establishment of the Department of Education, seeing it as a tool to promote moral values and ethical education in schools, it remains unclear whether the correct approach would be to completely eliminate the department or to focus on reshaping and reforming it in line with this vision.
Destruction for reconstruction isn’t bad. Perhaps after this, something bigger and better will come about
אל תבטחו בנדיבים בבן אדם וגו I don’t understand why people think what ever he does is the right thing, and the כוונה . sometimes he does good, and then sometimes he messes up, like by the ceasefire. we have to wait and see and only believe in the Rebbe and Hashem
Just because the Rebbe was happy about its establishment, doesn’t mean he would be happy with it now.
The dept of education was pushing extremely dangerous, radical gender ideology.
An organization that pushes everything anti-7 Mitzvos bnei noach, the Rebbe would surely agree to dismantle.
Unfortunately, people get stuck on the DETAILS of the rebbe’s words which were relevant then. Instead of looking at what the Rebbe was REALLY saying. the Rebbe was looking fwd to an organization that would promote Hashem in the hearts of the American children.
Unfortunately,this organization ended up doing the complete opposite.
It would be fair to say this is not the same DOE the Rebbe pushed for and it’s dismantling is a good thing in this context.
Regardless if Trump or anyone else did it.
Who says the states will be even better? The government needs moral legislation based on the sheva mitzvos and needs to instill that in children. It still days on money “one nation under G-d”. Having the states united in this under a Department of Education would be better for the future of the country.
Bh. Perhaps after the DOE will heed the Rebbe on this then there is room for their existence https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/2511748/jewish/Rights-or-Ills.htm
The Rebbe supported the establishment of this department because the Rebbe clearly saw the importance and impact it can have on education
If the department has went out of line of with our values, then there is a need to reform and reshape it. Eliminating it is obviously a political move and completely at odds with the Rebbes vision for the important role government plays in education.
This is not to mention that the plan to give education back to the states means that the children in left leaning states will be impacted the most as the federal government will now no longer have any control of the detrimental materials they are teaching
The author writes in the very last paragraph:
“Given the Rebbe’s strong support for the establishment of the Department of Education, seeing it as a tool to promote moral values and ethical education in schools, it remains unclear whether the correct approach would be to completely eliminate the department or to focus on reshaping and reforming it in line with this vision.”
How is it unclear what is the correct approach? It is very clear from the sicha and the letters in that time (see the Rebbe Responsa booklet linked in the article) that the Rebbe wants there to be a Department of Education. You have an issue with what’s it’s promoting? So change it. But don’t say it’s unclear from the Rebbe what is the correct approach. Not in the slightest
The Rebbe strongly advocated for the establishment of the Department of Education, for the reason that elevating its status from a mere adjunct or division of another national agency would underscore the nation’s commitment to prioritizing education. This is elaborated upon in the Farbrengen of 10 Shevat 5739.
(Since its inception, Republicans have pushed for its dissolution—not due to a issue with it’s values, but rather as part of their ideology favoring smaller government.)
Take the Rebbe’s approach to the UN as an example. Even after calling it ‘a house full of lies,’ he still praised its founding, saying that it is a step in the process of the geulah and that the reason it was established in New York is because the Frierdiker Rebbe lives there.
Gut Gezogt.