Trump Moves to Shut Down Education Department, But It Won’t Be Easy
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aiming to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a move that aligns with his long-standing campaign promise. However, actually shutting it down would likely require approval from Congress, which originally created the department in 1979.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the Education Department, calling it wasteful and too influenced by liberal policies. His new order directs the education secretary to take “all necessary steps” to start the process of closing the agency and shifting control back to state and local governments. But the order doesn’t lay out a clear plan for how that would happen, and the White House says some key functions of the department will still remain.
Trump assured that certain programs like Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell grants, and support for students with disabilities would continue. However, there’s some confusion over what will happen with federal student loans. The White House initially said the department would still handle them, but the order suggests that loan management should be handed over to another agency.
At the signing event, Trump pointed to declining academic performance as a reason to dissolve the department, arguing that states can do a better job managing education. “It’s doing us no good,” he said.
Republicans in Congress are now working on legislation to officially shut the department down, while Democrats are already pushing back against the idea. Whether Trump’s plan actually moves forward remains to be seen.
Trump Targets U.S. Education Department Exec Order Sets Stage for Shutdown
