Since returning to office, President Donald J. Trump has intensified efforts to curtail federal spending, targeting what his administration deems inefficient programs and agencies. Among the sectors hit hardest: education.
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the research arm of the US Department of Education, has become the latest casualty in a sweeping rollback of federally funded initiatives. Reports indicate that numerous contracts have been terminated, effectively halting operations for an organization that oversees $800 million in education research and policy analysis. Some of the affected projects were nearing completion, raising concerns about the waste of taxpayer dollars and the long-term impact on education policy and data collection.
The IES oversees many significant research-based projects in the US, such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). It also evaluates federal education initiatives and funds research in various areas, including the science of reading and the effectiveness of different educational programs.
These decisions reflect the larger agenda to cut trillions of dollars from the budget to increase government efficiency. However, new questions and concerns are being raised by concerned US citizens daily, as the nation is being pushed toward a new era.

IES contracts canceled: Here’s how it happened

On February 10, many workers within the IES received notices to immediately stop working on their projects. While the exact number isn’t clear, the American Education Research Association and the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics reveal that 169 contracts were affected, reports Education Week. The “convenience clause,” which allows the government to terminate contracts without cause, was invoked to carry out these cancellations. The canceled programs included evaluations of federally funded education programs, data collection on the education system, and policy evaluations.
The cancellation of these contracts was led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, in order to fulfill the organization’s mandate of slashing trillions in government spending to make the US government function more efficiently. Many of the affected projects were nearing completion. This has led to concerns among researchers and employees.
Reports indicate that some programs, such as the Regional Education Laboratory (REL) program, small business innovation research projects, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), have remained unaffected by the budget cuts. However, continued funding for these contracts remains uncertain.

Why is education being targeted?

The looming question remains unanswered: Why is education being targeted? Many are now coming to terms with the reality that educational research might not be a primary agenda under Trump’s second term. With DOGE actively scrutinizing the US education sector for federal budget cuts, many are left wondering whether the US will continue to be the global center of education excellence. The US attracts millions of students from around the world every year, many of whom rely heavily on the US government’s support for the nation’s education sector to provide top academic resources and opportunities. With the current trajectory under the new government’s plans, many students may now have to reroute their academic journeys away from the once-glorious “States.”