Trump Set to Sign Executive Order Pushing for Closure of U.S. Education Department
President Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order on Thursday that will direct newly confirmed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, according to reports from U.S. media outlets.
A draft of the order, circulated on Wednesday, instructs McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department” to the “maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
Trump, who promised during his campaign to decentralize education, has long advocated for reducing the role of the federal government in education, instead shifting power to state governments. The U.S. Department of Education, which was created in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, cannot be entirely shut down without approval from Congress, requiring at least 60 votes in the Senate to pass legislation.
Despite this legal roadblock, the order could lead to sweeping reductions in funding, staff, and programs within the department, severely limiting its effectiveness. In line with other federal agencies under Trump’s second administration, the Education Department could see its operations drastically diminished, even if a complete closure is not achievable without Congressional action.
The move has sparked anger and opposition from Democrats, teachers’ unions, and many parents who view it as a direct attack on the nation’s public education system.
McMahon, a 76-year-old businesswoman and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, previously stated at a Senate education committee hearing that the excessive concentration of power in Washington has harmed education. “The remedy,” McMahon said, “is to fund education freedom, not government.”
While the plan to dismantle the Education Department is still in its early stages, McMahon and other officials have floated the idea of transferring some of its functions to other parts of the federal government. However, such a move could lead to legal challenges, as it may contradict existing laws governing the department’s role.
The proposed move has added to the broader national debate on the future of education policy, a topic that has become increasingly polarized. Whether or not the department ultimately closes, the ongoing cuts and restructuring could profoundly alter the landscape of U.S. education for years to come.
