In a historic White House ceremony surrounded by school children and Republican leaders, President Donald Trump took decisive action on federal education policy.
According to Breitbart News, Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to initiate the process of dismantling the Department of Education, marking a significant shift toward state and local control of education.
The order instructs McMahon to take all necessary steps permitted by law to facilitate the department's closure while ensuring uninterrupted delivery of essential services. Trump emphasized that critical programs like student loans, Pell Grants, Title I funding, and resources for children with special needs will be preserved and redistributed to other agencies.
The Department of Education, established 45 years ago under President Jimmy Carter, has spent over $3 trillion since its inception. The White House argues these expenditures have yielded minimal improvements in student achievement, citing recent Nation's Report Card results showing math and reading scores at their lowest levels in decades.
Trump's administration points to statistics, including that 60% of fourth graders and nearly 75% of eighth graders lack math proficiency. Additionally, U.S. students rank 28th out of 37 OECD member countries in mathematics performance.
The president noted that even Carter's own cabinet members and various Democratic leaders opposed the department's creation in 1979. Trump stated to the audience:
When President Carter created the Federal Education Department in 1979, it was opposed by members of his own cabinet as well as the American Federation of Teachers, the New York Times Editorial Board, and the famed Democrat Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. History has proven them right — absolutely right.
McMahon, who Trump joked might be the last Education Secretary, has already begun implementing significant changes. The department has terminated nearly $1 billion in grants, eliminated thousands of DEI-related web pages, and launched investigations into racial preference policies.
The department recently announced plans to reduce its workforce by half, demonstrating a commitment to streamlining operations. McMahon expressed strong support for the president's initiative, stating:
Education is fundamentally a state responsibility. Instead of filtering resources through layers of federal red tape, we will empower states to take charge and advocate for and implement what is best for students, families, and educators in their communities.
Not everyone supports the president's plan. Teachers' unions and the American Federation of Government Employees have voiced strong opposition, warning of potential negative impacts on the education system.
Senator Bill Cassidy, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, announced plans to submit legislation supporting the department's closure. However, the process requires congressional approval, which may face significant hurdles.
The administration maintains that returning education control to states will benefit teachers by reducing bureaucratic burdens and allowing more focus on teaching fundamental subjects.
President Trump's executive order represents a fundamental restructuring of federal involvement in American education. The directive aims to shift control back to states and local communities while preserving essential educational services and funding streams.
The Department of Education's dismantling process will require careful coordination between federal and state authorities to ensure a smooth transition. While supporters celebrate the move as a victory for educational autonomy, opponents warn of potential disruptions to the American education system, setting the stage for an intense debate over the future of federal education policy.
