President Donald Trump is poised to sign a significant executive order at the White House on Thursday, aimed at diminishing the role of the Department of Education. Multiple sources have confirmed to ABC News that this executive order will instruct Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary legal actions towards dissolving the department. This move aligns with Trump's ongoing commitment to decentralize education, fulfilling a key promise made during his campaign to shift educational authority back to individual states.
Recent actions by the Department of Education indicate a substantial downsizing effort. Last week, the department laid off nearly half of its workforce, a significant reduction that included a massive cut in personnel, along with deferred resignations and retirement buyouts. This strategy reflects Trump’s intent to continue the reform process, with further staff reductions anticipated. In a statement on Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson earlier this month, Trump expressed his expectation that the department could be completely shut down, stating, "You'll have a few people left just to make sure the states are teaching English — you know, you say reading, writing and arithmetic."
While Trump’s plan to abolish the Department of Education is ambitious, it faces significant hurdles. Congressional approval is essential to dismantle a federal agency, and Secretary McMahon has acknowledged that she requires support from Congress to realize the president's vision. Specifically, achieving this goal would necessitate 60 votes in the Senate to overcome the filibuster, a challenging feat for any administration.
Critics of the proposed dissolution argue that the Department of Education plays a critical role in providing essential financial assistance and grant programs. Education experts warn that closing the department could severely impact public education funding, disproportionately affecting high-need students who rely on federally authorized programs. Programs such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Title 1, which provides funding for low-income families, could be at risk if the department is dismantled.
In light of these concerns, Secretary McMahon has assured stakeholders that the agency will continue to administer vital statutory programs that support disadvantaged students. In an interview on Fox News' The Ingraham Angle, she emphasized that the capable employees responsible for these mandated functions would not be adversely affected by the impending staff reductions. A statement from the Department of Education confirmed its commitment to maintaining all statutory programs, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking.
For over four decades, critics, including Trump and skeptics of the Department of Education, have argued that the agency wields excessive spending power without delivering commensurate educational results. Upon her confirmation, McMahon highlighted the initiative to abolish the department as a way to empower families to choose quality education options, ensuring that students are not confined to failing schools.
