United States President, Donald Trump, has signed an executive order to begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education in a major move to fulfill a longstanding conservative goal.
Declaring the agency guilty of “breathtaking failures,” Trump pledged to redirect its funding to individual states, asserting that decentralizing control would lead to better educational outcomes.
“We’re going to shut it down as quickly as possible,” Trump stated, though the White House admitted that completely closing the department would require congressional approval.
Legal battles have already begun, with opponents challenging both the agency’s closure and the deep staffing cuts announced the previous week.
At a signing ceremony in the White House, Trump, flanked by children seated at school desks, pointed out that the U.S. spends more on education than any other nation, yet students’ performance ranks disappointingly low.
The administration later clarified that while eliminating the department outright requires legislative action, efforts would immediately begin to scale back its operations within legal limits.
The executive order will likely spark legal and political resistance, mirroring previous Trump administration efforts to shrink federal government agencies.
During the event, Trump commended Education Secretary Linda McMahon, stating that he hoped she would be the department’s last leader.
“We’ll find something else” for her within the administration, he added.
Following the announcement, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican, revealed plans to introduce legislation to formally dissolve the department.
However, with Republicans holding a narrow 53-47 Senate majority and needing 60 votes to pass such a measure, the proposal faces an uphill battle.
A Conservative Dream Since Reagan
The call to eliminate the Department of Education dates back to President Ronald Reagan’s tenure, just two years after it was founded under Jimmy Carter.
Though previous attempts fell short, the Trump administration now aims to gut its funding and staff, much like its approach to the U.S. Agency for International Development, which saw significant program cuts.
The executive order lacks detailed plans regarding which programs will be cut or reassigned, but it does instruct McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure” and shift authority over education matters to state and local governments.
It also mandates the continuation of services Americans rely on during the transition.
Founded in 1979, the department oversees student loans and programs for low-income students.
Trump has accused it of pushing “racial, sexual, and political material” onto young people, reinforcing conservative arguments that education should be left to local authorities.
However, most U.S. public schools are already managed at the state and district levels, with federal contributions making up about 13% of K-12 funding. The department also plays a crucial role in federal student loan administration, a function whose future remains uncertain under these plans.
Shortly after assuming office, McMahon sent a memo titled “Our Department’s Final Mission” to the agency’s 4,400 employees, signaling the administration’s intent to follow through on Trump’s campaign promise.
“This is our opportunity to perform one final, unforgettable public service to future generations of students,” she wrote, urging staff to help reshape the nation’s educational framework.
Earlier reports suggested that parts of the department might be transferred to other agencies, such as the Treasury Department.
However, the executive order does not specify which programs, if any, will be reassigned rather than eliminated.
Trump’s plan has been met with strong opposition from educators and advocacy groups.
The American Federation of Teachers criticized the move, accusing the administration of using the “war on woke” as a pretext to undermine students in need. “No one likes bureaucracy, and everyone’s in favor of more efficiency,” the union stated, “but don’t use it as an excuse to attack children living in poverty and those with disabilities.”
Despite its small size, accounting for less than 2% of the federal budget, the Department of Education has been a frequent target of conservative leaders.
Now, with nearly 2,100 employees facing imminent furloughs, the Trump administration’s broader push to slash federal spending is taking shape, spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has played a key role in overseeing these drastic measures, fueling further debate over the federal government’s restructuring.
