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SLU/YouGov Analysis: Missouri Voters Oppose the Elimination of The Department of Education

by Abigail Medler, MPA on 03/19/2025

03/19/2025

SLU's Abigail Medler, MPA, provides analysis of the February 2025 SLU/YouGov Poll results. 

For years, President Donald Trump has campaigned on, among other things, his intentions to dissolve the Department of Education. In January 2025, two bills were introduced in the House of Representatives, H.R.369 and H.R.899, which seek to do just that. 

So, what is the Department of Education anyway? Since 1980, the Department of Education’s elementary and secondary programs have annually served nearly 18,200 school districts and over 50 million students attending roughly 98,000 public schools and 32,000 private schools. Department programs also provide grant, loan, and work-study assistance to more than 12 million postsecondary students. Of an estimated $1.15 trillion being spent nationwide on education at all levels for school year 2012–13, only about eight percent comes from Federal contribution to elementary and secondary education. The remaining 92% being spent on education is derived from non-federal sources like state, local, and private sources. 

Included within the eight percent of federal funds spent on education are several programs that contribute to educational achievement but do not fall within the Department of Education. When asked to report their knowledge of federal departments and the corresponding services they provide, a majority of Missouri likely voters correctly identified Student Loans, Federal Special Education funding (i.e. Individuals with Disabilities with Education Act), and Federal funding for schools serving low-income students (i.e. Title I), as responsibilities that fall under the Department of Education. Programs like Head Start and Free and Reduced-Price Lunch, however, fall under the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, respectively. 

Which federal department primarily runs these programs?' Medicaid—88% HHS, 1% Agriculture, 1% Education, 10% Not sure. Head Start—20% HHS, 2% Agriculture, 60% Education, 19% Not sure. SNAP—48% HHS, 32% Agriculture, 5% Education, 15% Not sure. Free/reduced school lunch—29% HHS, 25% Agriculture, 29% Education, 17% Not sure. Student loans—6% HHS, 1% Agriculture, 73% Education, 20% Not sure. Special education funding—25% HHS, 1% Agriculture, 59% Education, 15% Not sure. Title I funding—17% HHS, 3% Agriculture, 62% Education, 18% Not sure.

Which federal department primarily runs these programs?' Medicaid—88% HHS, 1% Agriculture, 1% Education, 10% Not sure. Head Start—20% HHS, 2% Agriculture, 60% Education, 19% Not sure. SNAP—48% HHS, 32% Agriculture, 5% Education, 15% Not sure. Free/reduced school lunch—29% HHS, 25% Agriculture, 29% Education, 17% Not sure. Student loans—6% HHS, 1% Agriculture, 73% Education, 20% Not sure. Special education funding—25% HHS, 1% Agriculture, 59% Education, 15% Not sure. Title I funding—17% HHS, 3% Agriculture, 62% Education, 18% Not sure.

The potential elimination of the Department of Education has already had sweeping effects with its most recent announcement that nearly 50% of its workforce (about 1,300 people) are being laid off, including the D.O.E’s union President and five additional union officers. Hundreds of these cuts will also include those at the Federal Student Aid office, which is the largest provider of student financial aid in the nation, The Institute of Education Sciences, which provides scientific evidence on which to ground education practice and policy, and the Office for Civil Rights, which works to ensure students, especially students with disabilities, are free from discrimination at school. 

The elimination of the Department of Education would be a major shift and one that would affect thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people and students, and it is likely for this reason that a majority of Missouri likely voters (52%) do not support its elimination. It does, however, maintain a partisan split with 93% of Democrats and 54% of Independents opposing the elimination, but 68% of Republicans in support of it. Additionally, 49-68% of respondents 18-64, those most likely to be students or have students in the household, are in opposition to the elimination, with those 65+ in favor (50%).

Likely voters' responses to 'Would you support or oppose eliminating the U.S. Department of Education?': 26% Strongly support, 15% Somewhat support, 10% Somewhat oppose, 42% Strongly oppose, and 8% Not sure. Democratic voters' responses: ' 1% Strongly support, 3% Somewhat support, 6% Somewhat oppose, 87% Strongly oppose, and 2% Not sure. Republican voters' responses: 43% Strongly support, 25% Somewhat support, 10% Somewhat oppose, 11% Strongly oppose, and 11% Not sure.

Likely voters' responses to 'Would you support or oppose eliminating the U.S. Department of Education?': 26% Strongly support, 15% Somewhat support, 10% Somewhat oppose, 42% Strongly oppose, and 8% Not sure. Democratic voters' responses: ' 1% Strongly support, 3% Somewhat support, 6% Somewhat oppose, 87% Strongly oppose, and 2% Not sure. Republican voters' responses: 43% Strongly support, 25% Somewhat support, 10% Somewhat oppose, 11% Strongly oppose, and 11% Not sure.

For the elimination of the Department of Education to be made into law, the bills presented to the House will need 60 votes in the Senate to move forward, a feat many feel may be difficult to achieve considering the political makeup of the Senate at this time.

This analysis is based on data from the February 2025 SLU/YouGov poll and reflects the opinion of the author.