The Impact of the Project 2025 Plan on Education

By: Gisselle Gonzalez

*This was written prior to the United States 2025 presidential election outcome between Trump and Harris.

Photo by Oliver Contreras/SIPA USA via Vice News

As the political landscape heats up in preparation for the 2025 election, former President Donald Trump has unveiled a new project plan that has stirred considerable controversy.* Central to this plan is a significant reduction in federal funding for education, which many fear could lead to the shutdown of numerous schools across the country. 

The Project 2025 plan was created back in 2013 by the Heritage Foundation, which is a proposal that is directed for a conservative design to shape a Republican country. The plan proposes to drastically cut federal funding for public schools and redirect resources to other areas. The rationale behind this decision is rooted in a desire to minimize federal involvement in education, advocating for more local and state control. While the intent might be to foster autonomy and efficiency, the immediate consequence would likely be a severe financial strain on already underfunded school districts, specifically underrepresented schools. 

Peter Greene, writing for Forbes, informed how the Project 2025 Plan , “turn federal funding into grants to the states ‘over which they have full control.’ Let the states use the funds for ‘any lawful educational purpose,’ regardless of what the original federal intent might have been.” The project wants the federal educational funds to convert into grants given to states, allowing them complete control over how to use the money for any lawful educational purpose, regardless of the original federal intentions. This approach emphasizes decentralization granting statute is the flexibility to address their unique educational needs and priorities.

However, the implementation of the Project 2025 plan could disproportionately harm underrepresented schools, particularly those serving underrepresented students. These communities often face significant funding disparities, and a drastic reduction in federal support would intensify existing inequities. Without federal oversight to ensure equitable distribution, states with limited resources may struggle to provide adequate funding, leading to larger class sizes, fewer educational programs, and diminished support services. The plan also suggests that “Title I is the program that sends federal dollars to buttress lower-income school districts. Burke recommends that these dollars be turned into block grants that the states should use to fund vouchers. …… In other words, Title I would disappear and states would have to figure out how to replace the funding and pick up the slack themselves.” The most vulnerable students, already contending with systemic challenges, would bear the shock of these cuts, further widening the educational achievement gap and undermining efforts toward equal opportunity in education. Additionally, the plan’s suggestion that “college loans should be handled by private lenders and treated as investments” would place even greater financial pressure on students from these communities, who often lack the same financial advantages and safety nets as their peers.

If the Project 2025 plan were to be implemented, it would likely lead to a significant decline in educational opportunities for underrepresented children. The plan's drastic cuts to federal education funding would leave many students from marginalized backgrounds struggling to attain or even continue their education. Without federal support for loan forgiveness, these students would be forced to pay for college out of pocket, a challenge that many cannot afford. Furthermore, the elimination of federal education programs would mean the loss of funding for free or low-cost education, exacerbating barriers to higher education for those who are already disadvantaged. This shift could severely undermine efforts to provide equitable access to education, deepening existing disparities and limiting the future opportunities of students from low-income and underrepresented communities. 

In conclusion, the proposed Project 2025 plan represents a profound shift in federal education policy, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the nation's most vulnerable students. By reducing federal funding and shifting control to states, the plan risks deepening existing inequities and undermining the progress made toward educational equity. The impact on underrepresented schools, particularly those serving underrepresented students, could be devastating, as they would face increased financial strain and diminished support. The move towards privatizing college loans and eliminating federal programs designed to aid low-income students further compounds these challenges, placing an additional burden on those who already do not have many opportunities. As the 2025 election approaches, it is crucial for policymakers and voters alike to consider the broader implications of such proposals and advocate for solutions that truly support equitable access to education for all students. 

*This was written prior to the United States 2025 presidential election outcome between Trump and Harris.