President Donald Trump prepares for a significant restructuring of federal education oversight as he readies to fulfill one of his key campaign promises.
According to Breitbart News, Trump will sign an executive order on Thursday to shut down the Department of Education, marking the first closure of a cabinet-level agency during his presidency.
The move comes after weeks of preparation and substantial workforce reductions at the department. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has already begun implementing major changes, including cutting the department's staff by half and reducing funding for several key offices, such as the Office for Civil Rights and the Institute of Education Sciences.
The executive order instructs Secretary McMahon to initiate the complete dissolution of the education department. The directive emphasizes returning educational authority to individual states while maintaining essential services and programs during the transition period.
The administration's decision follows Trump's consistent criticism of the department. During his 2024 campaign, the president expressed strong views about the agency's effectiveness and its impact on taxpayers.
According to Trump, as referenced in his campaign platform:
The department is a big con job that needs to be closed and sent back to the states, where it belongs.
The restructuring plan involves redistributing the department's responsibilities among state governments, which already determine their own curricula. Various federal agencies will absorb the remaining necessary functions.
Democratic opponents have voiced strong opposition to the closure. Protests have erupted, with some demonstrators attempting to prevent the department's shutdown through direct action.
The timing of the announcement aligns with Secretary McMahon's recent Senate confirmation, allowing the administration to proceed with its planned reforms.
The White House has been systematically reducing the department's operations since early February. These changes affect various educational programs and data collection initiatives.
The Institute of Education Sciences, responsible for tracking national academic progress, faces significant cuts. This development has raised concerns among education policy experts about maintaining consistent standards across states.
Reuters reports indicate the transition will prioritize maintaining crucial services while transferring authority to state-level education departments.
The closure of the U.S. Department of Education represents a major shift in federal education policy under Trump's leadership. The president's executive order will eliminate a cabinet-level agency that has overseen national education initiatives since its establishment. Secretary McMahon leads the complex process of dismantling the department while ensuring educational services continue uninterrupted. The transition involves coordinating with state governments to assume greater control over education policy and implementation.
