President Donald Trump has signed an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education. “It may sound strange, but the Department of Education – we’re going to eliminate it,” stated Trump during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, surrounded by children at school desks. Before signing the order, Trump turned to the children and asked for their thoughts. Introducing McMahon, Trump expressed his hope that she would be the final secretary of education, promising to find something else for her in the future.
While congressional approval would be required to fully abolish the department, Trump expressed his desire for bipartisan support, particularly from Democratic lawmakers. Immediately following the signing, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., announced his intention to introduce legislation to fulfill Trump’s goal of closing the Department of Education expeditiously.
Established in 1979 during President Jimmy Carter’s administration, the Department of Education faces significant opposition to its abolition, particularly from Democrats in the Republican-controlled Senate. Despite the executive order, which will reduce the department’s size, critical functions such as enforcing civil rights laws and overseeing student loans and Pell grants will continue.
The order will not impact initiatives supporting students with disabilities or Title I funding for schools serving low-income families. A senior administration official clarified that the department’s essential functions will be maintained. Trump acknowledged several state officials at the signing ceremony, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Public opinion on eliminating the Department of Education is largely negative, with a Quinnipiac survey showing significant opposition, particularly among Democrats and independents. McMahon, at her Senate confirmation hearing, emphasized the need for cooperation with Congress to address the department’s future.
“We are committed to working with Congress,” she stated in response to a query from Cassidy. “Our goal is to proceed thoughtfully, ensuring that we present a plan that our senators and Congress can support, leading to a more effective Department of Education. However, this will require action by Congress.” Despite Trump’s recent executive order, the administration seems to be bypassing lawmakers to some extent. On the “The David Webb Show” on SiriusXM, McMahon mentioned that as they phase out her department, they aim to equip states with best practices and necessary tools.
In explaining the decision to eliminate the department, McMahon noted, “It’s crucial to understand what the Department of Education does not handle. It does not deliver education, hire teachers, set curriculum, appoint school boards, or superintendents. Its role is primarily to offer funding so that states can support their own programs. However, the state level is where creativity and innovation should originate.”
McMahon and the administration have already reduced the department’s workforce by almost half in recent weeks. State officials and lawmakers have expressed concerns about their readiness to assume full responsibility for education policy, suggesting that Trump’s latest order may face legal challenges.
Labor and civil rights groups criticized the administration’s decision, with National Education Association President Becky Pringle warning about the negative impact on students. She stated that the actions would lead to larger class sizes, reduced job training programs, increased costs for higher education, decreased special education services for students with disabilities, and diminished student civil rights protections. NAACP President Derrick Johnson labeled the order “unconstitutional,” criticizing Trump for disregarding the rule of law. Johnson emphasized that only Congress has the authority to establish or abolish an executive agency, accusing Trump of systematically dismantling democratic functions. The move was described as detrimental to millions of American children, particularly those in disadvantaged communities, by Johnson.
