The **United States Department of Education (ED)** is a cabinet-level federal agency established in 1980 to oversee national education policy and administer funding programs. It was created by splitting the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare into two separate entities under the Department of Education Organization Act signed by President Jimmy Carter. The department’s mission is to promote educational excellence and ensure equal access to education for all students across the country[1][2]. ED supports state and local education systems by providing grants, loans, and resources aimed at improving educational outcomes. It administers critical programs such as the Title I program, which allocates over $18 billion to districts serving low-income students, and IDEA funding of $14.2 billion to support education for students with disabilities. Additionally, ED manages the federal student loan program, serving over 42 million borrowers, facilitating higher education access and economic growth[3]. With a 2024 budget of approximately $268 billion—about 4% of total federal spending—the Department of Education is relatively small in staff, employing around 4,000 people, but plays a vital role in shaping education policy and equity. Its structure includes eight principal operating components, such as the Institute of Education Sciences, which conducts research to inform evidence-based practices, and the Office for Civil Rights, which enforces laws ensuring equal access to education[1][4]. Historically, the department faced political challenges, notably during the Trump administration when efforts to reduce its size and influence were legally contested but partially upheld by the Supreme Court. Despite such challenges, ED continues to be essential in fostering educational equity, accountability, and innovation nationwide. It does not control local curricula or school operations, which remain under state and local jurisdiction, but it establishes federal guidelines and funding priorities that significantly impact educational standards and opportunities in the U.S[1][3][5]. For business and technology sectors, ED’s role in managing massive federal education funding and student loan programs, as well as its research into educationa