President Trump is preparing to sign an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education, potentially as early as Friday. The order would direct Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “facilitate the closure” of the department to the maximum extent permitted by law. Mr. Trump argues that federal control of education has failed children, teachers, and families, and believes control should return to the states.
While acknowledging that not all states would excel at managing education, Mr. Trump estimated about 40 states would do “great,” specifically mentioning Iowa and Indiana as examples of well-managed state education systems. He contends that local authorities better understand students’ needs than Washington bureaucrats.
Democrats oppose the move, arguing it would transform schools into for-profit enterprises affordable only to the wealthy. Sen. Christopher Murphy claimed the closure would hurt millions of families while benefiting billionaires.
The administration has already taken steps toward reducing the department’s functions, including gutting the Institute of Education Sciences, canceling grants, and laying off employees. The Education Department, with approximately 4,500 employees, handles federal financial aid, collects education data, and enforces nondiscrimination policies.
However, a president cannot unilaterally close a Cabinet-level department; congressional approval requiring a 60-vote Senate majority would be necessary. Instead, the order would direct Mrs. McMahon to reduce the department’s responsibilities through measures like layoffs, budget cuts, and transferring functions to other agencies.
The conservative Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 proposes moving student loans to the Treasury Department, education discrimination investigations to the Justice Department, and education data compilation to the Labor Department.
Critics warn that transferring these functions could disrupt services vital to students and schools reliant on federal support. An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll indicates 63% of respondents “strongly oppose” closing the department.
Republicans have discussed abolishing the Education Department since its creation by President Carter in 1979. Reagan campaigned on eliminating it but couldn’t secure congressional support.
Mr. Trump’s current push represents the most serious threat to the agency since its inception, occurring amid widespread conservative dissatisfaction with its policies on student loan forgiveness, transgender athletes, and other issues.
Read more: Trump to sign order shutting Education Department, faces strong opposition
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