The Department of Education is at the center of President Donald Trump’s latest executive order. Reports indicate he plans to dissolve the agency, with Secretary of Education Linda McMahon directed to oversee the process. Sources from ABC News revealed on Thursday that the White House has already prepared documents to initiate the department’s dismantling, though final decisions are still pending.
Trump has long advocated for eliminating the Department of Education. His administration is expected to push Congress to pass legislation ending its operations. According to reports, his draft order instructs McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education while ensuring operations continue as permitted by law.”
“The attempt to control American education through federal programs and funding has failed our children, teachers, and families,” the draft order states. Trump argues that federal oversight has led to bureaucratic inefficiencies, advocating instead for greater state and local control.
The Department of Education plays a critical role in the nation’s educational system. It oversees funding allocation, ensuring schools receive financial support through programs like Title I for low-income students and special education initiatives under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. While it does not directly set curricula, it enforces laws preventing discrimination and compiles vital education data.
Since returning to office, Trump has prioritized restructuring federal agencies, pushing employees to return to offices or resign. The Department of Education has become one of his key targets for cost-cutting. “I want it shut down immediately. The Department of Education is a waste,” Trump stated last month.
Trump proposed dismantling the agency during his first term, but Congress did not act. Currently, the department employs over 4,200 staff members and had an annual budget of $251 billion in its most recent fiscal year. With this renewed push, its future remains uncertain as lawmakers weigh the implications of such a drastic shift in education policy.