Trump’s order on Thursday directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to do all she can to facilitate the dismantling of the Education Department. Completely taking the department apart would require an act of Congress, but Trump said his administration would do what it can to “shut it down as quickly as possible.”
According to the head of the top organization representing medical schools, the executive order could affect the futures of all health professionals.
“The executive order calling for the Secretary of Education to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education could have a significant impact on the training of future doctors as well as biomedical researchers and other health professionals,” David J. Skorton, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), said in a statement to The Hill.
The AAMC is a co-sponsor of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body of medical schools in the U.S. The LCME is recognized by the Department of Education as well as the World Federation for Medical Education.
Trump said that the critical functions of the Education Department would be preserved, though what these are haven’t been specified.
“Critical functions of the department like financial aid delivery, student loan repayment and forgiveness programs, student loan servicing, and other aid programs make medical school a possibility for tens of thousands of future physicians each year, strengthening the health workforce,” said Skorton. “We must ensure that none of these essential services is jeopardized or interrupted to the detriment of patients and communities nationwide.”
According to projections from the AAMC, the U.S. faces a physician shortage of 86,000 by 2036 if further investments aren’t made in training new physicians. Doctors who are at or over the age of retirement comprise a fifth of working physicians—representing a significant decrease in the future workforce as they age out.
