U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the dismantling of the U.S. Education Department, which he reportedly labeled a “big con job” last month. This move, fulfilling a key campaign promise to reduce federal involvement in education; the department has long been a target of conservative criticism.
This was signed at an event at the White House, alongside students sitting at desks and the Republican governors of Texas, Indiana, Florida, and Ohio.
Despite the executive order, fully shutting down the agency would require congressional approval, as it was established by Congress in 1979. While Republicans have stated they will introduce legislation to achieve this, Democrats have reportedly strongly opposed the move.
The order said that the education secretary would “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.”
The order does not explain how the plan will be implemented, but the White House said some key functions will remain.
According to the report, further, Donald Trump promised to shut down the department except for its “core necessities,” keeping programs like Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell Grants, and aid for children with disabilities.
A Reuters report previously noted that the Education Department has over 4,200 employees and a $251 billion budget in the most recent year. Trump had earlier said he might try to close the department with an executive order but acknowledged that he would need Congress and teachers’ unions to support the move.
At the signing ceremony, Donald Trump criticized the Education Department, holding it responsible for the declining academic performance in the country. He argued that state governments and local communities would be better suited to handle education policies and funding.
“It’s doing us no good,” he stated, reinforcing his belief that the department has failed to improve the education system.
Even before signing the executive order, Trump’s administration had already begun reducing the department’s influence. The workforce has been cut nearly in half, and several offices within the agency have faced significant budget reductions. These measures are part of a broader effort to shift control over education away from the federal government and back to state and local authorities.
