Education Secretary Linda McMahon and the Trump administration dramatically reworked federal education responsibilities in 2025, moving many Department of Education functions to other agencies and pressing Project 2025 agenda items. McMahon framed the year as a rollback of federal involvement and a restoration of “merit,” while critics in the Senate warned of illegal funding freezes and hazards for K‑12 and higher education operations. Reporting from The Hechinger Report and a Project 2025 audit show half the department’s workforce has left or been dismissed, regional offices consolidated, and grant programs scaled back or halted. The changes included executive orders and memoranda targeting admissions practices, K‑12 discipline policies, and foreign‑influence reporting at colleges. Project 2025 proposes deeper structural shifts, including eliminating or reassigning core department functions—a plan that remains legally and politically contested and would require congressional action to complete. “Project 2025” refers to a conservative blueprint for restructuring the federal government; its education components range from program eliminations to transferring responsibilities across agencies. University and K‑12 leaders told reporters the rapid policy shifts produced confusion about compliance and funding flows at district and campus levels. Senate Democrats and advocacy groups have signaled oversight fights and litigation are likely to follow as institutions seek clarity on formula funds, Title programs, and research support.