Frequently Asked Questions

To view materials that show what the budget provides for ED programs and activities, visit our Budget Homepage. Additionally, you may view Budget News to track Congressional action on the Education budget as well as Budget Tables.

Contracts and Acquisitions Management, in the Office of Finance and Operations, is responsible for contract execution (solicitation, award, administration, and closeout of all contracts) and other acquisition instruments for the Department including the ten Regional Offices but excluding Federal Student Aid (FSA). For an overview of the contracts process, see Doing Business with the U.S. Department of Education.

Please visit our Contact Us & General Inquiries page to learn more and find information about how to file a complaint with one of our offices.

If you wish to contact Federal Student Aid for questions about your account, including repayment, loan discharge eligibility or applications or to file a complaint go to https://studentaid.gov/help-center/contact or call 1-800-433-3243.

We are looking forward to staying connected! Please sign up for email updates and visit us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or one of our many other social media channels.

The U.S. Department of Education was established as a cabinet level agency in 1980. Since that time, the following individuals have served as U.S. Secretary of Education:

Linda McMahon (2025-Present)

Dr. Miguel Cardona (2021-2025)

Betsy DeVos (2017-2021)

John B. King Jr. (2016-2017)

Arne Duncan (2009-2015)

Margaret Spellings (2005-2009)

Roderick Paige (2001-2005)

Richard W. Riley (1993-2000)

Lamar Alexander (1991-1993)

Lauro F. Cavazos (1988-1990)

William J. Bennett (1985-1988)

Terrel H. Bell (1981-1984)

Shirley M. Hufstedler (1979-1981)

Job listings and the application for employment is available on USAJOBS. USAJOBS is the official job site of the Federal government and the Recruitment One-Stop (ROS) resource where you can search for jobs, create resumes, and access information regarding your individual job search.

The Department is leveraging the parent and family voice and facilitating discussions between the Department and families and other stakeholders. Raising the next generation is a shared responsibility. When families, communities and schools work together, students are more successful and the entire community benefits. You may wish to access Statewide Family Engagement Centers, resources for parents and families and join our Family Engagement Learning Series.

Regulations.gov is where all comments to federal register notices must be made. You may also access a full list of the Department's most recent federal register notices.

The Congress established ED on May 4, 1980, as a Cabinet level agency, in the Department of Education Organization Act (Public Law 96-88 of October 1979). Under this law, ED's purpose is to:

Strengthen the Federal commitment to ensuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual;

Supplement and complement the efforts of states, the local school systems and other instrumentalities of the states, the private sector, public and private nonprofit educational research institutions, community-based organizations, parents, and students to improve the quality of education;

Encourage the increased involvement of the public, parents, and students in Federal education programs;

Promote improvements in the quality and usefulness of education through Federally supported research, evaluation, and sharing of information;

Improve the coordination of Federal education programs;

Improve the management of Federal education activities; and

Increase the accountability of Federal education programs to the President, the Congress, and the public.

ED's mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. To learn more about ED, please explore About ED and our overview of The Federal Role in Education.

ED offers internships for students interested in seeking valuable work experience in government and federal education policy and administration. ED offers internships in the fall, winter/spring, and summer. To review the application process, please visit our Internship program page.

ED designed the School Ambassador Fellowship program to enable outstanding teachers, principals, and other school leaders, like school counselors and librarians, to bring their school and classroom expertise to the Department and to expand their knowledge of the national dialogue about education. In turn, School Ambassador Fellows facilitate the learning and input of other educators and community members. For an overview of the program and to apply to be a fellow visit our School Ambassador Fellowship program page.

If you believe that the Department erred by blocking, removing, editing, altering, or hiding a comment, reply, or other response from you or another member of the public on its social media accounts, you may email web@ed.gov. Please include enough information to allow the Department to locate the comment, reply, or other response (for example, a link to the specific post and/or screenshots of a reply that has been hidden).

On May 22, 2025, in the State of New York v. McMahon (1:25-cv-10601), Judge Myong J. Joun granted Plaintiffs’ (STATE OF NEW YORK; COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSSETTS; STATE OF HAWAII; STATE OF CALIFORNIA; STATE OF ARIZONA; STATE OF COLORADO; STATE OF CONNECTICUT; STATE OF DELAWARE; THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA; STATE OF ILLINOIS; STATE OF MAINE; STATE OF MARYLAND; ATTORNEY GENERAL DANA NESSEL FOR THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN; STATE OF MINNESOTA; STATE OF NEVADA; STATE OF NEW JERSEY; STATE OF OREGON; STATE OF RHODE ISLAND; STATE OF VERMONT; STATE OF WASHINGTON; and STATE OF WISCONSIN) Preliminary Injunction and ordered (1) the Agency Defendants (LINDA McMAHON, in her official capacity as Secretary of Education; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; and DONALD J. TRUMP, in his official capacity as President of the United States) are enjoined from carrying out the reduction-in-force announced on March 11, 2025; from implementing President Trump’s March 20, 2025 Executive Order; and from carrying out the President’s March 21, 2025 Directive to transfer management of federal student loans and special education functions out of the Department; (2) the Agency Defendants are enjoined from implementing, giving effect to, or reinstating the March 11, 2025, the President’s March 20, 2025 Executive Order, or the President’s March 21, 2025 Directive under a different name; (3) the Agency Defendants shall reinstate federal employees whose employment was terminated or otherwise eliminated on or after January 20, 2025, as part of the reduction-in-force announced on March 11, 2025 to restore the Department to the status quo such that it is able to carry out its statutory functions; (4) the Agency Defendants shall provide notice of this Order of Preliminary Injunction within 24 hours of entry to all their officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and anyone acting in concert with them; (5) the Agency Defendants shall file a status report with this Court within 72 hours of the entry of this Order, describing all steps the Agency Defendants have taken to comply with this Order, and every week thereafter until the Department is restored to the status quo prior to January 20, 2025; and (6) the Preliminary Injunction shall become effective immediately upon entry by this Court. The Preliminary Injunction Order shall remain in effect for the duration of this litigation and until the merits of a decision have been issued. Agency Defendants are appealing the Order.

For updates please visit: State of New York v. McMahon, 1:25-cv-10601 – CourtListener.com