On March 20, 2025, President Donald J.Trump signed a new executive order directing the Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, to pursue the closure of the Department of Education (ED). The ED distributes over $1.6 trillion in federal loans and financial aid for students, enforces civil right laws such as Title VI and Title IX, funds public school budgets, and gathers education statistics. The executive order also directs the Education Department to restrict any federally funded programs or activities under the label of “diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI),” reinforcing previous executive orders aimed at rolling back DEI initiatives.

Given that over 70% of medical students take out loans, especially utilizing federal loan programs like the Direct Unsubsidized Loan or Graduate Plus loans, the closure of the ED will jeopardize these loan programs and loan repayment programs that have been a cornerstone reducing medical education debt.

National APAMSA condemns this policy directive that will undermine student education funding and diminish the protections against racism and discrimination in schools and colleges across the nation. As mentioned in our previous statements and in our official policy compendium, APAMSA continues to advocate and work with policymakers and professional organizations to protect efforts to increase diversity and equity in medical education.

We urge Congress to oppose any bills aimed at formalizing the elimination of the ED and to commit to the protection of the department and countless other diversity programs. Please contact your local Congressional representative to express your support to maintain the Department of Education.

For questions about this statement, please reach out to Brian Leung at rapidresponse@apamsa.org. For local support, please contact your regional director.