Trump is trying to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Most school funding is local, as are policy decisions. But his actions could still leave a lasting mark.

The department says that education is “primarily a state and local responsibility” in America, and most funding and curricula development come from these levels. However, the department does provide federal dollars to California,

California received about $8 billion in funding for K-12 education and about $7 billion in funding for higher education in 2024.