Well, here we go—another promise being checked off the list.

The administration of Donald Trump just took what officials are calling the largest step yet toward dismantling the Department of Education, and unlike the usual Washington talk, this one actually comes with action behind it.

Last Thursday, the Department of Education announced a major agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury to transfer control of federal student loan operations. Translation? One of the biggest and most expensive responsibilities of the department is being shipped out the door.

According to Undersecretary Nicholas Kent, this isn’t random—it’s part of a multi-phase plan. In other words, this isn’t just trimming around the edges… it’s a full-on restructuring.

And let’s be honest: when the largest budget and staffing component of an agency starts packing its bags, that’s not a minor tweak—that’s a clear signal of where things are headed.

Policy expert Andrew Gillen from the Cato Institute made it clear that previous changes were small compared to this one. This move? It’s the real deal. Even Kent agreed, calling it the “largest step toward winding down the Department of Education.”

For years, critics argued that the federal government didn’t need to micromanage education from Washington, drowning schools in bureaucracy and red tape. Now, the administration is essentially saying: let’s prove it.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon doubled down on that idea, emphasizing the goal of cutting bureaucracy, empowering local leadership, and restoring efficiency. (Imagine that—letting states and communities take the lead instead of federal paperwork. Revolutionary, right?)

And there’s another key point here: money.

The department says shifting student loan management will help clean up the financial mess left behind, with nearly $1.7 trillion in student debt, less than 40% of borrowers on repayment plans, and about a quarter already in default. Not exactly a shining success story for centralized management.

By moving responsibilities to Treasury, the administration argues it can streamline operations, reduce losses, and actually get borrowers back on track—while saving taxpayers money. Again, pretty wild concept: efficiency in government.

Even more telling? The department has already cut its size by over 40% and signed multiple interagency agreements. Staff are literally being reassigned to other agencies. This isn’t theoretical anymore—it’s happening in real time.

And the endgame is crystal clear: work with Congress to make these changes permanent and ultimately shut the department down entirely.

Love it or hate it, one thing is undeniable—this isn’t just campaign rhetoric anymore. It’s execution.

And if this pace keeps up, Washington might finally learn a lesson it’s avoided for decades: sometimes, less government actually works better.