Trump to Issue Executive Order to Abolish US Department of Education
President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order to abolish the United States Department of Education, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. Sources familiar with the matter, who remained unnamed, indicated that the order could be issued as soon as Thursday.
Both the White House and the Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment as of Wednesday evening.
Trump has long called for the elimination of the department, dismissing it as a “big con job.” He proposed shutting it down during his first term as President, but Congress did not act on the proposal at the time. Republicans have consistently pushed to reduce the funding and influence of the Department of Education.
Linda McMahon, who was confirmed as Trump’s education secretary on Monday, has expressed support for the plan to abolish the agency. However, defenders of the department argue that it is essential for maintaining high standards in public education and accuse Republicans of pushing for-profit education models.
The immediate closure of the department could disrupt billions of dollars in federal aid for K-12 schools, as well as tuition assistance for college students. Trump had mentioned last month that he wanted to shut down the department immediately but acknowledged that he would need approval from Congress—who controls funding—and cooperation from teachers’ unions to achieve this.
McMahon assured Senators that, despite the department’s potential abolition, federal school funding appropriated by Congress for low-income school districts and students would continue.
If enacted, the closure of the Department of Education would be Trump’s first shutdown of a cabinet-level agency. The department oversees about 100,000 public schools and 34,000 private schools across the United States, although more than 85% of public school funding comes from state and local governments. The department’s role includes distributing federal grants to needy schools, funding programs for students with special needs, and supporting arts initiatives and infrastructure improvements.
Additionally, it manages the $1.6 trillion in student loans held by millions of Americans who rely on federal loans to fund their college education.
Trump has been particularly critical of the Department of Education under President Joe Biden, accusing the department of pushing student loan forgiveness initiatives and policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
