Washington, D.C.: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, fulfilling a campaign promise and a long-standing goal of some traditional factions. Calling the agency’s record “breathtaking failures,” the president vowed to return control and funding to individual states.
Trump declared at a White House signing ceremony, stating that, “We’re going to shut it down as quickly as possible,” though administration officials acknowledged that a complete closure would require congressional approval. The move is already encountering legal challenges from groups opposing the closure and the sweeping staff cuts announced last week.
The executive order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to encourage the department’s closure and transfer authority to state and local governments. However, without congressional approval, the department cannot be completely shut down.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana announced plans to raise legislation to dismantle the agency, but with a slim GOP majority of 53-47 in the Senate, reaching the 60-vote threshold required to close a federal department remains unlikely.
Even if the department is not formally abolished, the Trump administration could significantly weaken its operations by cutting funding and staff, similar to its approach with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which saw major programme cuts under the administration.
Education Department’s role and the controversy
Established in 1979, the Department of Education administers federal student loans and oversees programmes for low-income students. Trump has repeatedly blamed the agency of indoctrinating students with racial, sexual, and political material.
Despite these criticisms, the department does not directly operate schools or set curricula, as those responsibilities primarily lie with state and local governments. Federal funding accounts for only about 13 percent of primary and secondary education budgets, with the majority coming from state and local taxes.
🇺🇸President Trump Signs Executive Order to Eliminate the Department of Education
“Closing the Department of Education would provide children and their families the opportunity to escape a system that is failing them.” –President Trump pic.twitter.com/aiyZs9TDC9
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 20, 2025
McMahon, soon after taking office, sent a memo to the department’s 4,400 employees titled “Our Department’s Final Mission,” reinforcing the administration’s objective. McMahon stated that, “This is our opportunity to perform one final, unforgettable public service to future generations of students.”
Pushback from educators and unions
Teachers’ unions and education advocates have strongly opposed the move. The American Federation of Teachers criticised the decision, stating that, “No one likes bureaucracy, and everyone’s in favour of more efficiency, so let’s find ways to accomplish that. But don’t use a ‘war on woke’ to attack children living in poverty and those with disabilities.”
The debate over the Education Department’s existence has persisted for over four decades, with Republican President Ronald Reagan advocating for its abolition just two years after its creation under Democratic President Jimmy Carter. The department is currently the smallest in the federal cabinet, consuming less than 2 percent of the federal budget.
Broader government restructuring underway
The effort to shrink or abolish federal agencies is part of a broader government overhaul spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), overseen by tech billionaire Elon Musk. Nearly 2,100 Education Department employees are set to be placed on leave, as Doge implements workforce reductions across multiple agencies.
The executive order does not provide specific details on which programmes will be eliminated or transferred to other agencies, such as the Treasury. However, with legal battles and congressional hurdles ahead, the future of the Department of Education remains uncertain.
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