The United States Department of Education: Former President Donald Trump is reportedly taking initial steps toward dismantling the Department of Education, according to sources familiar with the matter. This move aligns with his broader agenda to significantly reduce the size of the federal government.
White House officials have drafted an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin the process of closing the department, insiders revealed.
Trump has long expressed his desire to eliminate the department, though doing so would ultimately require congressional approval. During her confirmation hearings earlier this year, McMahon acknowledged that shutting down the agency entirely would need legislative action. She was officially confirmed on Monday.
The administration was working on an order to launch the closure process. Trump is also expected to push Congress to pass legislation to permanently dissolve the department.
The draft order instructs McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department (U.S. Dept of Education)” while ensuring compliance with the law. It criticizes federal oversight of education, stating that the system of managing schools through federal programs and funding has failed students, teachers, and families.
President Trump is set to sign an executive order that would eliminate the Department of Education. Will this be good for the American people?
While it’s uncertain when Trump will sign the order, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified on X that it would not be happening on Thursday.
A Longstanding Debate on the United States Department of Education
Efforts to abolish or restructure the United States Department of Education are not new but have historically struggled to gain congressional support. Critics argue that federal involvement in education has led to inefficiencies, while opponents believe eliminating the department would undermine public schools and essential programs.
Rep. Madeleine Dean, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, denounced the move, saying it was unsurprising given Trump’s previous stance. She linked the effort to Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint for Trump’s potential second term, which explicitly calls for eliminating the department.
On the campaign trail, Trump frequently criticized the agency, calling it an example of government overreach. He framed its closure as a way to prevent what he described as the political indoctrination of students.
“I told Linda, ‘I hope you do a great job of putting yourself out of a job,’” Trump said last month, reiterating his commitment to shutting down the department.
Even if the department were eliminated, some of its programs and funding could be absorbed by other government agencies, as was the case before its establishment in 1979. Funding for K-12 programs that support students from low-income families and children with disabilities existed before the department was created and could continue under different oversight.
A ‘Final Mission’ for the Agency
Shortly after her confirmation, McMahon sent a message to department employees titled “Our Department’s Final Mission.” In it, she urged staff to see the effort as an opportunity to contribute to a historic transformation in American education.
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“This is our chance to leave a lasting impact for future generations of students,” she wrote. “When this mission is complete, we want American education to be freer, stronger, and more hopeful for the future.”
She acknowledged that the process would bring significant changes to staffing, budgets, and overall agency operations. The focus, she said, would be eliminating bureaucratic inefficiencies.
McMahon also pointed to longstanding issues in the education system, including underperforming schools, rising college debt, and teacher dissatisfaction. Many educators, she noted, are leaving the profession due to excessive bureaucracy.
Under her leadership, the department would prioritize three core principles:
- Parents as the primary decision-makers in education.
- A renewed focus on foundational subjects like math, reading, science, and history.
- Ensuring postsecondary education prepares students for well-paying careers.
As the administration moves forward, the department will work with Congress and other federal agencies to determine next steps.
