Trump Signs Executive Order to Dismantle Department of Education, Returns Control to States
On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced a significant shift in U.S. education policy by signing an executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education, reducing its functions to their bare minimum. This move fulfills one of Trump's electoral promises to cut back on federal government involvement and return educational responsibilities to individual states.
In his announcement, Trump reflected on the historical context of the Department of Education, established by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. He noted that even some of Carter's cabinet members were opposed to the creation of the department. Highlighting a perceived failure to deliver satisfactory educational outcomes despite high U.S. spending on education, Trump emphasized that the American education system is lagging, particularly in critical subjects like mathematics. "We will return education to the states where it belongs. It is something popular but very important—common sense," he stated.
Surrounded by children at school desks during the signing ceremony, Trump labeled the measure as historic. The executive order instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take necessary steps for the department's closure. According to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, while the Department of Education will continue to manage student loans, scholarships, and aid, the goal of the measure is to streamline and reduce the department's substantial functions.
Leavitt remarked, "We do not need to spend more than three trillion over several decades on a department that has clearly failed in its initial intent to educate our students," pointing out that the agency's functions will largely be transferred to other departments as a result of this executive order.
The decree will need to pass through Senate approval, as it corresponds with Trump's broader agenda to significantly reduce the size of federal government operations. Central to these efforts is the government efficiency office, led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Despite the planned closure of the Department of Education, officials assured that funding for essential educational programs would not be cut. The department issued a communiqué emphasizing its commitment to continue supporting students, including those in elementary and secondary schools, students with special needs, college students, and others dependent on crucial educational programs.
The overarching aim, as detailed in the department's statement, is to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and to promote an effective transition. In conclusion, officials expressed that the new measure represents a pivotal step towards empowering parents and states to regain control over their children’s education.
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