President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Thursday that will kickstart the process of dismantling the Department of Education, according to two administration officials who spoke to CNN. This move will fulfill a key campaign promise made by the president. The signing event is scheduled to take place at the White House on Thursday afternoon, with Republican governors, state education officials, and school children also invited to attend.
A White House spokesperson, Harrison Fields, stated, “President Trump’s executive order to expand educational opportunities will empower parents, states, and communities to take control and improve outcomes for all students.” While completely shutting down the Department of Education would necessitate congressional approval, the president will instruct Secretary Linda McMahon to undertake all necessary measures to facilitate the closure of the department and transfer education authority back to the states, as per one administration official.
A senior administration official clarified that the order will not alter federal funding for students covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Title I funding for low-income schools, or federal student loan payments. USA Today was the first to report on the anticipated signing event on Thursday, while CNN had previously reported on the White House’s drafting of the order to initiate the closure of the Department of Education.
This move represents the latest effort by the White House to test the president’s executive powers, with legal challenges already being prepared by education advocates who disagree with the decision. During his campaign, Trump vowed to dismantle the agency, citing it as a symbol of federal overreach and linking it to contentious cultural issues.
Following the announcement of workforce reductions totaling nearly 50%, resulting in approximately 1,300 layoffs and numerous voluntary “buyouts,” unions have begun to voice their opposition. National Education Association President Becky Pringle expressed concern, stating, “If successful, Trump’s continued actions will hurt all students by sending class sizes soaring, cutting job training programs, making higher education more expensive and out of reach for middle-class families, taking away special education services for students with disabilities, and gutting student civil rights protections.”
This article has been updated with further details. For additional CNN news and newsletters, please register at CNN.com.
