President Donald Trump is poised to undertake a significant and controversial action this week by directing his Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to initiate the dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education through an executive order. Sources familiar with the matter have revealed details from a draft executive order that outlines this unprecedented move.
The draft instructs McMahon to take all necessary legal steps to facilitate the closure of the department. However, experts note that such a drastic measure would require congressional approval, and any proposed legislation is likely to falter without the support of 60 Senate votes. During her confirmation hearing last month, McMahon acknowledged the necessity of congressional action, stating, “We’d like to do this right. That certainly does require congressional action.”
This initiative has been in development for several months, aligning with Trump’s campaign promise to return education control to the states. According to sources, the draft emphasizes the urgent need to end the federal bureaucratic grip on education. “The Federal bureaucratic hold on education must end,” it asserts, advocating for the transfer of the Department of Education's primary functions back to the states.
Additionally, the draft mandates McMahon to allocate federal funding for education programs while ensuring rigorous compliance with both the law and the administration's policies. The document criticizes the current federal control over American education, describing it as a failed experiment that has adversely affected children, teachers, and families.
However, critics of this proposal argue that the Department of Education provides essential financial support and grant programs, holding schools accountable for enforcing crucial nondiscrimination laws. Augustus Mays, vice president for partnerships and engagement at the advocacy group The Education Trust, expressed concerns, stating that closing the department would significantly hinder support for students, particularly those who rely on vital programs such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Title I, which supports low-income families.
Education experts warn that shuttering the Department of Education could jeopardize billions of dollars in funding, scholarships, and grants that millions of students depend on across the United States. Furthermore, the draft calls for the termination of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in programs receiving federal funding, raising additional concerns about potential discrimination based on race and sex.
Just days prior to the draft's emergence, the Department of Education launched EndDEI.Ed.Gov, a website designed to collect complaints focused on discrimination and to enforce Title VI of the civil rights law in schools. The current version of the executive order criticizes education spending that does not yield satisfactory results, particularly in standardized tests like the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly referred to as the nation's report card.
In a bid to enhance educational outcomes, the draft also emphasizes the need to return decision-making power to parents and families, aiming to improve the overall well-being and future success of the nation’s children. McMahon's supporters believe her previous role as the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment equips her to be a transformative figure, capable of disrupting the status quo within the department.
In a department-wide email sent on Monday, McMahon articulated her vision for a historic overhaul of the agency, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and restore the American education system. “My vision is aligned with the President's: to send education back to the states and empower all parents to choose an excellent education for their children,” she stated in her memo. In the early months of Trump’s second term, dozens of Department of Education employees have already been placed on paid administrative leave, pressured to retire, or laid off, signaling a significant shift in the agency's operation.
