r/education • u/shapeshifterhedgehog • 16h ago
Terrified for if DOE gets shut down
As a college student from a very poor background with disability accommodations and FAFSA student loans, I'm terrified for how I might be affected if the DOE gets shut down. I'm on track to graduate with my bachelor's soon. Is there something I can do if it does get shut down? Does anyone know what might happen to college students like me if it gets shut down?
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u/janepublic151 7h ago
Student loans are a multi billion dollar (annually) business. They are not going away. The entire US higher education system would implode without student loans.
The oversight may change. The names may change. The acronyms may change. The ability to lend and borrow money will continue.
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u/notaslavetofashion 8h ago
Don’t worry about it. There’s nothing you can do about it for now, and I would say that with all of DJT’s hot air, this is par. Many threats will be made, many awful things will be said, the stability of the country will falter. Focus on what’s in your control: graduate and get a job or join Peace Corps (wherein you can obtain loan forbearance and an even better job after Close of Service).
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u/Silent-Resort-3076 6h ago
Agreed!!
The only thing that ALL of us can control is our reaction and our actions.
The one thing I would tell everyone (though it would be very difficult for the very poor:( is to save as much money as you can. Figure out a VERY strict budget (make your own coffee/lunch instead of buying, etc.) and follow it as though your life depended on it, because it does. I'm not writing this to promote MORE fear, but to be practical and once you start saving, it does bring you a bit of peace....I swear it does!
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u/AccomplishedDuck7816 6h ago
I would get the degree ASAP. Don't blow off your classes. Get your nose in the books and get out with that diploma as soon as you can.
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u/KdGc 16h ago
I’m not sure what will happen but I understand your concern. We have two kids in college and another to start soon, FAFSA is helpful and essential in being able to afford their tuitions. One of my kids gets accommodations too.
It will take time for any changes. Nothing will happen this academic school year. Hopefully the universities still maintain availability of accommodations but it will probably be more strict and university specific with future accommodation. They will probably not be legally required to do as much.
Try not to worry. Advocate for yourself within your school disability resources and your academic advisor.
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u/Prometheus720 7h ago
Most of the things the DOE does will have to be parceled out to other departments unless they pass legislation removing those things from the "todo list" in the first place.
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u/BigFitMama 8h ago
I, my team of 15, and about 24000 people are paid through DE title grants.
I'm scared to but can you imagine rich people letting those non elected people trying to influence Gov spending take away the endless streams of DE money that is the back bone of their favorite colleges and universities and cause them to shut down?
The Title programs can't be revoked by a president. And FAFSAs existence can't be cancelled by a president.
So our state senators and reps need to be made very aware 1.9 billion in title funds will go bye bye for each of their states and districts alone - that doesn't even cover FAFSA or Public Education subsidizies for poor schools.
Please write them and remind them.
Non elected, no US Gov employees, do NOT get to tear our country and higher/public Ed apart because they didn't get access to those funds as vendors!
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u/syntaxvorlon 9h ago
Remember, if they fire enough of us and shutter our schools, then what's to stop you from acts of civil disobedience like protesting in DC or New York or Florida?
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u/LateQuantity8009 6h ago
The DoE was separated from the Department of Health, Education & Welfare (HEW) in 1979 by act of Congress. It would take an act of Congress to change that. Most likely the DoE would be folded back into the successor department of HEW (Health & Human Services) or most DoE functions would be relocated to other departments.
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u/watdo123123 3h ago
I wouldn't trust the mainstream media and their exaggerated claims that are based on false assumptions and slippery slope fallacy.
Remember that dismantling a federal agency can only take place through legislative action from Congress.
Tl;dr, don't put too much thought into it. Focus on your education. You'll be just fine.
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u/Beatpixie77 2h ago
Tbh they make waaayyyy too much money off student loans to nix them all together. If anything they would raise the lifetime caps for UD and grad schools AND the interest rate to make more off of us.
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u/Several-Honey-8810 2h ago
I am also glad that my kid is done with college so that I dont have to FAFSA again. That is the most awful action I have to do every year. I press enter and it laughs at me. Getting Novacane shots in my eyelid was less painful. It is not like we are millionaires either.
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u/AccordingOperation89 1h ago
The incoming president is a blubbering moron. I wouldn't waste a minute of my time worrying about his nonsense.
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u/No_Resolution_9252 5h ago
Did you not learn anything at all in your 4 years of college?
This was of course a rhetorical question, if you had, you wouldn't be in fear of the gutting of the department of (no) education being gutted.
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u/ScienceWasLove 13h ago
Maybe the DOE should be shut down but the horrible roll out of the new FASFA shows exactly how poorly the DOE is run.
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u/Candid_Disk1925 16h ago
Your loans will be transferred to the treasury department. Honestly, this stuff will take time to coordinate - if it happens- so try not to worry about it.