Why DOGE is Eyeing the U.S. Department of Education 👀

Key takeaways

Data from Open The Books has revealed a dramatic increase in spending at the U.S. Department of Education

The department’s spending has drawn criticism due to ongoing declines in American students’ academic performance 

DOGE takes aim

The Department of Education is just one of many federal agencies that has fallen into the crosshairs of Trump’s controversial cost-cutting effort.

The Musk-led team is running into roadblocks, though. On Feb. 24, a federal judge temporarily blocked DOGE from accessing workers’ Social Security numbers, addresses, financial records, and more.

Falling academics

Questions have been raised about how and where the department’s money is being used, given recent declines in academic performance.

For example, this interactive article from The74 outlines the widening achievement gap between America’s highest and lowest performing students.