# Department of Education 

[Back to Downsizing Government](/downsizing-government) 

##### Latest Blog Posts 

##### [Fiscal Effects of School Choice](/blog/fiscal-effects-school-choice) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

##### [Four GOP Presidential Candidates Say They’ll Close Education Department—That’s Good Policy](/blog/four-gop-presidential-candidates-say-theyll-close-education-department-thats-good-policy) 

By [Michael Chapman](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-chapman) 

##### [Canceling Student Debt Could Inflate College Prices? Suddenly, People Don’t Like It](/blog/cancelling-student-debt-would-inflate-college-prices-suddenly-people-dont-it) 

By [Neal McCluskey](https://www.cato.org/people/neal-mccluskey) 

### [Timeline: Department of Education](/downsizing-government-essay/department-education-timeline)

Explore a historical timeline of federal education policy, charting major legislation, program growth, and the evolving national role in K–12 and higher education.

[View Timeline](/downsizing-government-essay/department-education-timeline) 

##### Department of Education Spending 

[![Dept. of Education Static Graph](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2025-10/EducationOutlays.png?itok=DHp4awJn)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG004) 

This chart was generated using our [interactive charting tool](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG004), which visualizes data from the federal spending database released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

#### Featured Content 

[![high school](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2023-11/high%20school%201.jpg?itok=83Pd-DNl)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/cutting-federal-aid-k-12-education) 

Study 

### [Cutting Federal Aid for K‑12 Education](/downsizing-government-essay/cutting-federal-aid-k-12-education) 

By [Neal McCluskey](https://www.cato.org/people/neal-mccluskey) 

While federal intrusion has increased over the decades, standardized tests reveal that public school performance remains mediocre.

[![Higher Education](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-02/higher-education-image%20Cropped.jpg?itok=9HnYtgQf)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/higher-education-subsidies) 

Study 

### [Higher Education Subsidies](/downsizing-government-essay/higher-education-subsidies) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and [Neal McCluskey](https://www.cato.org/people/neal-mccluskey) 

While the aim of student aid programs is to help students, the programs also transfer wealth from taxpayers to academic institutions.

[![Downsizing Government](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2025-05/Downsizing%20Gov.png?itok=4YAi4cGI)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government) 

##### About 

The federal government is running huge budget deficits, spending too much, and heading toward a financial crisis. Without a change of direction in Washington, average working families will be faced with large tax increases and a lower standard of living. This project is designed to help policymakers and the public understand where federal spending goes and how to reform each government department. It describes the failings of agencies and identifies specific programs to cut. It also discusses the systematic reasons why government programs are often obsolete, mismanaged, or otherwise dysfunctional.

Please contact Chris Edwards at [cedwards@​cato.​org](mailto:cedwards@cato.org) with questions or comments.

[Information on the data sources for our charts.](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts?showAbout=true)