US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, fulfilling a major campaign promise and a long-standing conservative goal. The move, announced at a White House ceremony on Thursday, aims to return control of education funding and policy to individual states.
Trump described the department as plagued by “breathtaking failures,” arguing that the US spends more on education than any other nation but continues to rank poorly in student performance. While the executive order sets the groundwork for shutting down the department, the White House acknowledged that a full closure would require congressional approval.
The decision has already sparked legal challenges from those seeking to block the agency’s closure and the sweeping staff cuts announced last week. Despite these hurdles, the Trump administration plans to cut significant portions of the department that remain within legal boundaries.
During the signing, Trump praised Linda McMahon, whom he appointed to lead the department, and expressed his hope that she would be its final secretary. He hinted at finding her another role within his administration once the department is dissolved.
Following the executive order, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana introduced legislation to formally close the department. However, with Republicans holding a slim 53-47 Senate majority, achieving the required 60 votes for passage remains unlikely.
Even if the department is not fully abolished, the administration could severely weaken it by slashing its budget and workforce—similar to what was done to the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which was forced to end many of its programs. Already, 2,100 employees are set to be placed on leave starting Friday, as part of broader federal workforce cuts overseen by the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), led by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
The executive order does not specify which programs will be cut or transferred to other departments, such as the Treasury. However, it directs McMahon to “take all necessary steps” to facilitate the department’s closure while ensuring “the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from educators and advocacy groups. The American Federation of Teachers accused Trump of using a “war on woke” narrative to justify harming vulnerable students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds and students with disabilities.
“For more than 40 years, conservatives have targeted the Department of Education,” the union said in a statement. “No one likes bureaucracy, and everyone supports efficiency, but this move is about ideology, not student success.”
The Department of Education, established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, has faced opposition from conservatives since its inception. Just two years after its creation, President Ronald Reagan led calls to abolish it. Despite being the smallest agency in the president’s cabinet, comprising less than 2% of the federal budget, it plays a crucial role in administering student loans and funding programs for low-income students.
As the battle over the department’s future unfolds, Trump’s executive order represents a significant shift in federal education policy, with long-term consequences for students, teachers, and state governments.
Melissa Enoch
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