President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, a long-standing goal of conservatives who argue that education should be controlled by individual states rather than the federal government.
Surrounded by schoolchildren in the East Room of the White House, Trump held up the signed order with a broad smile.
“We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible,” he declared. “We’re returning education back to the states where it belongs.”
A Longtime Conservative Goal
The Department of Education, established in 1979, cannot be formally abolished without congressional approval. However, Trump’s directive gives Education Secretary Linda McMahon authority to begin defunding and downsizing the agency, potentially crippling its operations.
The move fulfills a key campaign promise and aligns with Trump’s broader government restructuring efforts, spearheaded by tech mogul Elon Musk and his Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Republican governors, including Florida’s Ron DeSantis and Texas’ Greg Abbott, attended the signing ceremony, underscoring the party’s long-held belief that local control would improve educational outcomes.
McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, said the administration was focused on redirecting education funds to the states without “Washington bureaucracy.”
Criticism and Legal Challenges
Democrats and education advocates have condemned the decision, warning of its impact on low-income students and civil rights protections.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer labeled it a “tyrannical power grab” and “one of the most destructive steps Donald Trump has ever taken.”
Federal funding, which makes up about 13% of primary and secondary school budgets, plays a crucial role in supporting low-income students and enforcing civil rights protections. Without it, critics argue, vulnerable communities will suffer.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank behind many of Trump’s policy proposals, praised the move. “It’s a beautiful day to dismantle the Department of Education,” the group posted on X.
While the administration has signaled that a small education office may remain to handle student loans and grants, legal challenges could slow or even block the effort. A federal judge recently halted Trump’s attempt to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, citing potential constitutional violations.
