U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a controversial executive order to begin the closure of the Department of Education, calling it a “monument to breathtaking failures” and pledging to return its authority and funding to individual states.
Speaking from the White House on Thursday, flanked by schoolchildren, Trump said:
While the president's order sets the wheels in motion, formally dissolving the department will require Congressional approval, making the prospect of full closure legally and politically uncertain.
The order:
The executive order is expected to face legal and political hurdles. Lawsuits are already being prepared by education advocates, and Democrats have blasted the move as politically driven and harmful to disadvantaged students.
Even if Congress blocks a full shutdown, Trump’s administration has the power to gut funding and staff, as it previously did with USAID.
Trump appointed Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department, with the intent that she would be its final secretary.
In a memo titled "Our Department’s Final Mission", McMahon told staff:
Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate, but 60 votes are needed to formally abolish a federal department—making the path to total closure a longshot.
Still, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) announced he will introduce a bill to do just that.
The move aligns with broader efforts by Trump’s DOGE taskforce, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, to slash federal agencies and spending.
DOGE has already approved 2,100 layoffs at the Education Department beginning Friday.
The dismantling of the Department of Education has long been a conservative dream, dating back to Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Trump has argued the agency promotes “woke ideology” and fails to deliver educational results despite high spending.
However, critics warn that eliminating federal oversight could worsen inequality, limit student loan access, and reduce protection for vulnerable students.
The order does not yet specify what will happen to:
Some insiders speculate these responsibilities could shift to the Department of Treasury, though nothing has been formally announced.
In Summary:
Speaking from the White House on Thursday, flanked by schoolchildren, Trump said:
While the president's order sets the wheels in motion, formally dissolving the department will require Congressional approval, making the prospect of full closure legally and politically uncertain.
The order:
- Instructs Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to begin steps to dismantle the department.
- Calls for authority to be transferred to state and local governments.
- Promises "uninterrupted delivery" of education services during the transition.
- Does not detail which specific programmes will be cut or moved.
- Federal student loan programmes
- Support for low-income and disabled students
- Education data collection and civil rights enforcement
The executive order is expected to face legal and political hurdles. Lawsuits are already being prepared by education advocates, and Democrats have blasted the move as politically driven and harmful to disadvantaged students.
Even if Congress blocks a full shutdown, Trump’s administration has the power to gut funding and staff, as it previously did with USAID.
Trump appointed Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department, with the intent that she would be its final secretary.
In a memo titled "Our Department’s Final Mission", McMahon told staff:
Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate, but 60 votes are needed to formally abolish a federal department—making the path to total closure a longshot.
Still, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) announced he will introduce a bill to do just that.
The move aligns with broader efforts by Trump’s DOGE taskforce, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, to slash federal agencies and spending.
DOGE has already approved 2,100 layoffs at the Education Department beginning Friday.
The dismantling of the Department of Education has long been a conservative dream, dating back to Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Trump has argued the agency promotes “woke ideology” and fails to deliver educational results despite high spending.
However, critics warn that eliminating federal oversight could worsen inequality, limit student loan access, and reduce protection for vulnerable students.
The order does not yet specify what will happen to:
- Federal student loan servicing
- Pell grants and education funding
- Regulations protecting students’ rights
Some insiders speculate these responsibilities could shift to the Department of Treasury, though nothing has been formally announced.
In Summary:
- Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education.
- Closure requires Congress and is likely to face legal challenges.
- Critics fear major impacts on students, especially those most in need.
- The move is part of a wider push to reduce federal government size, led by Musk's DOGE team.
