Deanna Michael began researching educational policy when former President Jimmy Carter created the Department of Education in 1979. 

Forty-six years later, Michael, who is now a professor of higher education and policy at USF, was “shocked” when President Donald Trump announced his executive order to dismantle the Department of Education on March 20. 

The Department of Education is responsible for maintaining federal student loan programs and overseeing federal workplace and school discriminatory laws, such as Title IX, according to the department’s website.

While the department will not be eliminated unless Congress signs it into law, Michael said students should prepare for “a future of uncertainty.”

Related: Panel at USF discusses Trump’s pledge to end the Department of Education

At the signing of the executive order, Trump emphasized that the department will continue to manage federal student loans.

But Michael said Trump contradicted himself in the announcement when discussing financial aid, making it unclear how Trump plans to execute this order.

The department does not have enough staff to oversee federal loans and “must return bank functions to an entity equipped to serve America’s students,” according to the order.

The Department of Education is the collector of all financial aid loans, according to the federal student aid website.

Until laws are officially changed, federal loans should look the same, Michael said. 

With uncertainty looming over what agency may take over the maintenance of federal aid programs, it is important for students to hold onto physical documentation of federal aid agreements, Michael said.

“Many of our students rely on these funds to continue their education,” Michael said. “Without federal oversight, there is a real risk these funds could become more difficult to access.”

Related: USF researchers face uncertainty over NIH grant restrictions

Steve Permuth, a professor of educational leadership at USF, said he believes most of the Department of Education’s facilities will be taken over by the states “eventually.”

If that happens, Permuth said there will likely be discrepancies between states over regulating university curriculum and vast differences between schools may cause additional tension.

“If different states have different standards for education, we are going to see a real disparity in who comes out of our school systems,” Permuth said.

If states take over federal programs, Michael said she worries about the future of civil rights laws in Florida universities, such as Title IX.

Florida has legislation restricting diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public universities, which could limit the enforcement of anti-discriminatory laws at universities, Michael said. 

Related: Some USF students reconsider their careers after Trump’s DEI cuts

Michael said she expects enforcement of civil rights laws at universities to be given to the states, rather than the federal government, which oversees it now.

With Florida defunding programs focusing on equity and discrimination, Michael said she is worried Florida universities will not be able to hire people to enforce civil rights laws.

 “If USF can’t hire these specialists, what would happen to our victim advocacy and Title IX offices remains unclear,” Michael said.

While the future of financial aid and anti-discriminatory laws remains unclear, the advice from Michael and Permuth is the same — stay informed and prepared.

“Write letters or call our state representatives and state government to advocate for the Department of Education,” Permuth said. “Participate in state elections and vote for representatives who share your opinions.”