President Donald Trump signed an executive order that instructs US Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education.
The move is seen as an attempt by the Trump administration to circumvent the usual need for congressional approval to close a federal department.
The order follows Trump’s long-standing criticism of the department, which he claims has seen its budget more than double in recent years without corresponding improvements in national test scores. T
he President, speaking at the signing ceremony in the White House, said the department’s work was ineffective and added, “We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible.”
Despite the executive order, Trump indicated that the administration might eventually pursue legislation to have Congress formally close the agency. He reiterated his campaign promise to return control over education to state governments, saying, “We are going to send education back to the states.”
Controversy and Criticism
The move has sparked immediate backlash from Democrats and education advocates. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the action, warning that it would harm millions of low-income children and exacerbate problems in public schools. Jeffries highlighted potential risks such as larger class sizes, loss of special education funding, and rising college tuition costs.
Progressive members of Congress have denounced the order as unconstitutional, asserting that Trump does not have the authority to abolish the department without congressional approval. Some have argued that this is part of a broader effort to defund and destabilize the department in an attempt to push through the administration’s political agenda.
The Bigger Picture: A Shift in US Education Policy
The effort to close the Department of Education has been discussed by Republicans since the 1980s. However, in recent years, it has gained more traction, especially among pro-Trump grassroots activists critical of federal education standards and inclusive policies.
In addition to dismantling the department, Trump’s broader education agenda has focused on expanding school choice, promoting “patriotic education,” and removing funding from schools accused of promoting “radical indoctrination.”
The dismantling of the department is aligned with Trump’s Project 2025, a conservative policy manifesto that envisions the department as a statistics-gathering agency that simply disseminates information to states. Critics, however, warn that the move could harm vulnerable students and disrupt federal programs designed to support low-income schools and students with disabilities.
Future of Education Funding and Policy
While the executive order will not directly affect the department’s largest programs, including Title I for low-income schools and the federal student loan program, its implications for education funding and policy remain unclear. Trump’s administration has already reduced the department’s workforce by nearly half and canceled several programs.
