Former Education Secretaries Discuss Department Closure
The federal agency is being closed as administration policy shifts toward state-managed school voucher programs.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Administration
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Former education secretaries Miguel Cardona and Margaret Spellings recently discussed the ongoing federal shift in education policy at a Dartmouth Political Union event. The conversation addressed the administration's efforts to close the U.S. Department of Education following an executive order issued in March 2025.
Why it matters
The closure of the Department of Education, initiated by a March 2025 executive order, represents a significant shift in federal oversight of school funding and national educational standards. This change follows the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which implemented nationwide school voucher policies.
Of the 150 students registered for the recent Dartmouth College event, 50 attended to hear perspectives on federal education policy changes. These developments follow the July 2025 enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The players
Miguel Cardona
Served as the U.S. Secretary of Education from 2021 to 2025 and previously as Connecticut commissioner of education.
Margaret Spellings
Served as the U.S. Secretary of Education during the George W. Bush administration.
Linda McMahon
Currently serving as the Secretary of Education tasked with overseeing the closure of the department.
The details
The Trump administration is executing a strategy to transition away from federal education oversight, guided by a March 2025 executive order that instructed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to facilitate the department's closure. This policy shift is paired with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which introduced federal school voucher mandates. During the discussion, Margaret Spellings also emphasized the need for caution regarding rapid AI integration in classrooms, noting that current research capabilities vary significantly across state lines.
Timeline
March 2025: Executive order issued to close the U.S. Department of Education.
July 2025: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is signed into law.
October 19, 2026: Former education secretaries discuss policy at Dartmouth College.
The Home Front
The current effort to dissolve the Department of Education marks a fundamental departure from the federal oversight framework established by the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. This move shifts the focus of educational governance and funding responsibilities away from federal agencies.
Families should monitor state-level communications for updates regarding local school funding and the implementation of new voucher programs. As federal oversight shifts, parents may see changes in how education policy is determined and managed within their specific districts.
The takeaway
The federal education landscape is undergoing a significant transition toward state-led policy and school choice initiatives. Families should prioritize tracking updates from their local school boards regarding how these administrative changes will affect funding and regional academic standards.
Further reading
For more on the current landscape of national school policy, visit the Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dartmouth.
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