AI Is Key to Trump’s Education Overhaul

Education Secretary Linda McMahon delivered a speech on March 3 outlining the U.S. Department of Education’s “final mission”: To swiftly and responsibly implement President Trump’s controversial vision of shutting down the department. She argued that this move would help make the American education system great again, correctly noting that “millions of young Americans are trapped in failing schools.”

The administration’s proposed solution is to cut federal bureaucracy, reduce regulations, and remove restrictions on education funding to enable states to better innovate. As Secretary McMahon put it, these changes would allow “our colleges, K-12 schools, students, and teachers to innovate and thrive.” Indeed, central to her speech was the theme of innovation, emphasizing that “disruption leads to innovation and gets results,” and calling for a “positive vision for what American education can be.”

Regardless of what one thinks about the Trump administration’s efforts to shutter the Department of Education, her point about the need for innovation is exactly right. However, there is a critical piece missing from the administration’s vision: The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in transforming education. AI has the potential to revolutionize learning by providing every student with access to a world-class tutor.

AI-powered tools like Khan Academy’s “Khanmigo” can already assist students with their studies, while advanced AI models allow for real-time interaction via audio and video, creating personalized, conversational tutoring experiences. Future innovations will further refine AI tutors to understand individual students' goals, learning preferences, and strengths and weaknesses.

However, simply eliminating bureaucracy will not be enough to drive the rapid adoption of these transformative tools. Historically, technology adoption in many sectors has been slow, hampered by resistance to change, fear of disruption, high costs, lack of training, and privacy concerns. Past efforts to introduce data-driven analytics into education, such as a $100 million Gates Foundation-funded initiative, have failed for similar reasons.

Policymakers on both sides of the aisle are hesitant to take bold action. On the left, concerns about AI bias, safety, and its impact on teachers have led to resistance from teachers’ unions and lawmakers. California recently passed a bill prohibiting AI from replacing community college faculty, and the National Education Association has warned against AI undermining the teacher-student relationship. On the right, many lawmakers prefer a hands-off approach, leaving adoption entirely to market forces, even though market forces alone do not drive rapid changes in education. This lack of urgency risks leaving American students behind in an AI-driven future.

President Trump’s goal of moving more education policy to the states does not need to conflict with a national commitment to accelerating AI adoption in education. Regardless of who leads education policy, a key priority should be ensuring that AI adoption receives sustained focus and investment.

The federal government can play a crucial role by funding and incentivizing AI adoption while allowing states to determine how best to implement the technology in their classrooms. Grants from agencies like the National Science Foundation could support research and pilot programs, while additional federal funding could help states implement AI tutoring systems tailored to their specific needs.

Crucially, this approach maintains state autonomy. States could decide how AI is used—whether to prioritize AI tutors in math and reading, or to deploy AI tools in science and history. They could also determine whether AI should be integrated into classroom instruction or made available outside school hours. The key is for the federal government to provide funding and create market incentives for the development of AI-enabled tutors, ensuring that all students, regardless of their state, have access to these powerful learning tools.

A bold vision for American education should embrace AI, not just less bureaucracy. Whether the federal government restructures its approach to education policy or maintains existing institutions, the right strategy will empower states while ensuring that technological innovation delivers real benefits for students across the country. Cutting red tape is only the first step—investing in AI is what will truly make American education great.

Image credit for social media preview: US Department of Education