Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin dismantling the US Department of Education, taking a major step toward one of his long-time political goals. The move seems to be a way of sidestepping Congress, which would otherwise need to approve a full shutdown of the department.
📚 Trump: ‘Shut it down as quickly as possible’
At a White House signing ceremony, Trump argued that the department has ballooned in size while national test scores remain stagnant. He doubled down on his campaign promise to shift control of education back to the states.
“We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. It’s doing us no good,” Trump declared.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon, seated in the front row, acknowledged his remarks with a smile. Trump even suggested she might be the last person to ever hold the position.
🔍 What does the executive order actually do?
While Trump can’t fully abolish the department without Congress, his order instructs McMahon to take all necessary steps to dismantle key functions. The administration has already started cutting the department’s power by:
✔️ Slashing staff numbers—nearly half of its workforce has been laid off.
✔️ Cancelling grants and contracts that fund key education programs.
✔️ Shifting influence away from the federal government and toward states.
🎓 What about funding for schools and students?
Despite the executive order, the White House insists major education programs won’t be affected, including:
- Title I funding (£14.5bn) for high-poverty schools.
- IDEA funding (£12.2bn) for students with disabilities.
- The £1.3tn federal student loan program.
However, critics argue it’s unclear how much will be cut without directly slashing these programs.
📖 A long-standing Republican goal
The idea of shutting down the Department of Education dates back to the Reagan era but has gained traction in recent years. Pro-Trump activists and right-wing think tanks argue that the department promotes federal overreach, diversity initiatives, and progressive education policies.
Trump’s move aligns with Project 2025, a conservative plan to reshape the US government. The blueprint suggests transforming the department into a basic data-gathering agency, stripping it of policymaking power.
🏛️ Can Trump actually do this?
Not without Congress. Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie has already proposed a bill to terminate the department by 2026, but similar efforts have failed in the past.
Democrats warn that Trump’s executive order is an unconstitutional power grab designed to bypass Congress. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed the move, saying:
“Millions of children will suffer. Class sizes will skyrocket. Teachers will be fired. Special education programs will be gutted. College will become even more expensive.”
🚨 What happens next?
Even if Trump can’t fully shut down the department, his administration is expected to:
✔️ Push for block grants—giving states control over federal education funds.
✔️ Expand school vouchers—allowing public money to fund private education.
✔️ Strip diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from schools.
✔️ Enforce “parents’ rights” laws—which could lead to more book bans and curriculum changes.
In January, Trump already signed orders to:
- Promote school choice—redirecting public money toward private schools.
- Defund schools accused of “radical indoctrination”.
- Revive the “1776 Commission” to promote “patriotic education”.
Meanwhile, the Education Department—now stacked with America First Policy Institute appointees—has been scrapping diversity programs, ending book-ban investigations, and pushing for Christianity in schools.
🤔 The big question
Even if Trump can’t erase the Department of Education overnight, his administration is poised to chip away at its influence. The real fight will be whether Congress lets it happen—or pushes back.
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