WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education, advancing a long-held Republican goal to transfer control of education from the federal government to individual states. The signing ceremony took place in the White House’s East Room, where Trump was surrounded by schoolchildren seated at desks. Smiling, he held up the signed order for the cameras.
Trump declared that the order would “begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all.” He added, “We’re going to shut it down as quickly as possible. It’s doing us no good. We’re going to return education back to the states where it belongs.”
Established in 1979, the Department of Education cannot be fully abolished without congressional approval. However, Trump’s executive order is expected to significantly reduce its funding and staffing, effectively weakening its operations. This move is part of a broader effort by Trump, aided by tech billionaire Elon Musk and the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE), to overhaul federal agencies.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and educators. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the action as a “tyrannical power grab” and “one of the most destructive and devastating steps Donald Trump has ever taken.”
Republican leaders, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, attended the signing ceremony, signaling their support for the initiative. Trump framed the move as essential to cutting costs and improving educational standards in the US, which he claims are falling behind those of Europe and China.
Education has long been a contentious issue in America’s cultural and political debates, with Republicans advocating for state-level control over federal oversight. The executive order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the states,” according to a draft obtained by AFP.
Trump had promised during his campaign to eliminate the department and devolve its powers to states, mirroring his approach to other issues like abortion rights. His appointment of McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, as Education Secretary was widely interpreted as a sign of the department’s impending demise.
The White House clarified that a smaller version of the department might remain to handle “critical functions,” such as managing student loans and grants for low-income students. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “The Department of Education will be much smaller than it is today.”
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank whose “Project 2025” recommendations have influenced Trump’s policies, praised the move. “It’s a beautiful day to dismantle the Department of Education,” the organization posted on social media.
Historically, the federal government has played a limited role in education, contributing only about 13% of funding for primary and secondary schools, with the remainder coming from state and local sources. However, federal funding has been crucial for low-income schools and students with special needs, and the federal government has played a key role in enforcing civil rights protections in education.
Trump and Musk have already targeted other federal agencies, significantly reducing their budgets and staff. A similar effort to dismantle the US Agency for International Development was temporarily blocked by a federal judge on Monday, who ruled that the action likely violated the US Constitution.
