WASHINGTON – President Donald‍ Trump announced Friday his intention to transfer the management of federal student loans to the Small Business Administration (SBA) ⁢as part of a broader effort to dismantle the Department of Education.

Trump also⁢ proposed moving ⁣special education programs and school dining services, which provide food assistance to students, under the ‍purview of the ‍Secretary ⁤of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a figure known for his ⁣criticism of vaccines and ⁤claims linking them to polio.

“I ‍have⁣ decided that SBA,directed ⁢by Kelly Loeffler,will take care of the entire student loan portfolio,” Trump said,responding to questions at the⁤ White ‍House. He described the issue as “quite complex” and indicated the department of Education would be relieved of this responsibility⁢ “immediately.”

In 2024,⁣ approximately 336,000 residents of Puerto Rico held ⁢student⁤ loan debt issued by the ‍U.S. Department of Education. Around 22,000 benefited from debt reduction programs‍ initiated ‍by former‍ President Joe Biden.

Trump believes the proposed changes, ‍which include reducing the Department of Education’s staff by nearly half, ⁣will be highly effective.

On Thursday, Trump signed‍ an executive order aimed at⁢ dismantling ‍the Department of⁣ education.⁤ The order seeks Congressional approval for the department’s elimination, a move considered unlikely due to⁢ opposition from ⁢Democrats, who hold significant ⁢votes in the ‍Senate, and potentially some Republicans.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has been tasked with initiating the department’s dismantling to the fullest ⁣extent possible, acknowledging that ⁤legislative action is required.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who is not considered ⁣to be close to Trump, announced Thursday that he plans to introduce legislation to regulate the closure of the Department of Education.

While signing the executive order, Trump did not ⁢specify the steps McMahon should take. Though,⁤ he stated that the Department of Education should no longer be‍ responsible for student loans.

The Ministry ⁤of Education, to the maximum extent that the law allows, will take all the necessary steps to facilitate the closure of‍ the Department of Education ⁤and return ⁤the educational authority ‍to⁣ the local states and communities, at the same time guaranteeing the⁤ effective and uninterrupted provision⁤ of‍ the services, programs and benefits on which Americans depend.

The order also states:

In ⁢line with⁣ the powers ⁢of the Department of Education, The Ministry of Education‍ will ensure that the allocation of federal funds of the Department of Education is subject to the rigorous compliance with ⁣the Federal⁣ Law and ⁣the Policies of ⁢the Administration, including the requirement that any program or⁣ activity that receives federal assistance ends the illegal discrimination⁣ hidden ‍after the tag of ‘diversity, ⁣equity and inclusion’ ⁤or similar terms, and⁣ the programs that promote gender ideology.

Both Trump and McMahon have stated that the Department of Education will continue to implement legally ⁢mandated programs,including formula financing,student loans,Pell Grants,allocations for students with special needs,and Title 1 programs for districts and schools with high poverty rates.

McMahon stated:

Closing the department does not mean cutting the funds to those who depend on it;⁢ We will continue to support primary and⁢ secondary students, students with special needs, university students requesting loans who depend on⁣ essential programs.

Senate Democratic Leader Charles‍ Schumer of New york, said that trying ‍to⁤ dismantle the ⁣Department of Education is one of the most destructive‍ and ‍devastating ⁣measures that Donald Trump has ever taken, as he will hurt the children.