What Trump Eliminating the Department of Education Could Mean for North Dakota

Advocates for public education warn that a loss of federal funding could lead to repercussions such as increased property tax.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR)  – The Trump Administration – and its new Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon – have made it clear they know they cannot unilaterally shutter the DOE.

“It is set up by the United States Congress and we work with Congress,” said McMahon during a confirmation hearing.

“It clearly cannot be shut down without it.”

But that doesn’t mean they can’t deal it serious damage in the meantime.

“They could take parts of the Department of Education and just not fund it. And, of course, that would be horrible for the kids in North Dakota,” says Nick Archuleta, President of North Dakota United.

He also says that cuts to federal funding could have dramatic negative effects on education in the state.

“North Dakota, by the way, gets around $190 million dollars a year for K-12 education from the federal government,” Archuleta explains.

“So if those funds go away, that doesn’t mean the need goes away, that just means the state is going to have to pick up the lion’s share of that tab.”

93% of students in North Dakota attend a public school, and only 32% of North Dakota counties even have access to a private school – which makes the state uniquely reliant on public education.