In a move that has already sparked widespread debate, President Donald Trump announced plans to sign an executive order on Thursday aimed at closing the U.S. Department of Education.
This action follows through on a key campaign promise from his presidential bid, fulfilling a long-standing goal of many conservatives who have criticized the department for years.
The announcement, made by a White House official on the condition of anonymity before the official statement, confirmed that the executive order would be issued this week.
The Department of Education, a government agency established in 1979, has been a target for conservative lawmakers and activists who argue that the federal government should not be involved in education policy, which they believe should be left to the states.
Trump’s criticism of the Department of Education has been a central theme throughout his presidency. He has frequently labeled the department as wasteful, accusing it of promoting liberal ideologies at the expense of students.
The move to dissolve the department aligns with his broader agenda to limit the power of federal agencies, a consistent theme of his administration.
Throughout his 2016 campaign, Trump made a clear promise to reduce the size of the federal government and eliminate agencies he deemed unnecessary.
The Department of Education, with its vast influence over federal education policy and funding, has been a particular target of Trump and his allies in the conservative movement.
For years, the Department of Education has been at the forefront of federal efforts to standardize education across the country.
It oversees programs such as Pell Grants and federal student loans, and it ensures that schools comply with federal education policies, including those related to equal access to education for students with disabilities.
However, many conservatives argue that education is a matter best left to the states, and they view the Department of Education as an unnecessary bureaucratic entity that imposes one-size-fits-all policies on local schools.
By closing the department, Trump and his supporters hope to return control over education to the states, where they believe it belongs.
While Trump’s announcement has generated significant excitement among his supporters, the practicalities of closing the Department of Education could be much more complicated.
As the White House official noted, the executive order would direct Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education,” but there are serious questions about how this would be accomplished.
The Department of Education was created by an act of Congress in 1979, and dismantling it without a legislative change would be a monumental challenge.
To fully close the department, Trump would likely need Congress to pass a law formally abolishing it, something that would require cooperation from both parties—an unlikely prospect given the current political climate.
In addition, the department plays a key role in overseeing a range of critical programs that directly impact millions of Americans. These include financial aid programs, Title IX protections for students, and various federal grants for K-12 education.
Without a Department of Education, it is unclear how these services would continue to function effectively. Trump’s executive order is set to ensure that these services are not interrupted, but many question whether this can be achieved in practice.
A significant aspect of Trump’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education is his emphasis on returning control of education to the states. Trump has long advocated for a more decentralized approach to education, believing that state and local governments are better positioned to meet the unique needs of their students.
This vision would shift responsibility for managing education policy, including curriculum standards, teacher certification, and funding, away from the federal government and back to individual states.
While some states may welcome this shift, others may face challenges in handling these responsibilities without the support and guidance of a centralized agency like the Department of Education.
Trump’s critics argue that removing federal oversight could lead to a patchwork of educational standards across the country, exacerbating disparities in education quality between states and regions.
In particular, they worry that states with fewer resources could struggle to maintain the same level of educational support that currently exists under federal programs.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions from both sides of the political spectrum. Supporters of Trump’s plan argue that dismantling the Department of Education is long overdue.
They believe that states, not Washington, D.C., should have control over education, and they see Trump’s move as a step toward greater freedom and autonomy for local governments.
“We have seen the failures of a one-size-fits-all education system dictated by the federal government,” said conservative commentator Sarah Carter. “This is an opportunity for states to take charge of their own education systems and ensure that students are receiving an education tailored to their needs.”
On the other hand, critics have expressed alarm about the potential consequences of dismantling the department. Democrats and education advocates argue that closing the Department of Education would harm students, particularly those who rely on federal financial aid programs and protections against discrimination in schools.
“This is a disastrous move that will hurt millions of students across the country,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). “We need to be investing in education, not dismantling the very systems that ensure every student has an equal opportunity to succeed.”
The proposed closure of the Department of Education raises important questions about the future of U.S. education policy. With the department serving as the central authority on education, its dissolution would likely result in a major reorganization of how education is managed in the country.
This could lead to more fragmented policies and greater inequality between states.
In the short term, Trump’s executive order could lead to significant changes in how federal education funds are allocated and how education standards are set across the country.
However, the long-term effects of this move will depend on how states adapt to their new responsibilities and whether Congress ultimately passes the necessary legislation to dissolve the Department of Education.
While Trump’s plan is part of his broader effort to shrink the size of the federal government, the decision to dismantle the Department of Education will undoubtedly have lasting consequences for the American education system.
As the debate over the future of U.S. education policy continues to unfold, the administration’s proposal will remain at the center of political discourse.
