Trump Signs EO dismantling Department of Education

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at initiating the closure of the U.S. Department of Education. This action fulfills a key campaign promise to reduce federal involvement in education and return control to the states. However, completely eliminating the Department of Education requires congressional approval, which is not guaranteed given the current political landscape—Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, but major legislation typically needs 60 votes to pass, requiring bipartisan support that may be difficult to secure.

The executive order, signed on Thursday, March 20, 2025, directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all lawful steps to facilitate the department's closure while ensuring the continuation of critical functions like student loans, Pell Grants, and funding for low-income schools and students with disabilities. Critics, including Democratic leaders and education advocates, argue this move could disrupt federal support for vulnerable students, potentially increasing class sizes, cutting special education services, and weakening civil rights enforcement in schools. Supporters, including Trump and some Republican governors, contend that the department has failed to improve student outcomes despite significant spending—over $3 trillion since its creation in 1979—pointing to stagnant reading scores and pandemic-related learning gaps.

"The Department of Education was founded in the 1970s and since then we have spent more than $3T at this federal bureaucracy. What has been the return on that investment for the American taxpayer?"

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt asked when questioned about the Presidents move.

Legal challenges are already emerging, with Democratic state attorneys general and teachers' unions vowing to fight the order, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of congressional authority. While the department has already seen staff reductions—down to roughly 2,183 employees from 4,133 when Trump took office—the full dismantling hinges on Congress, which established the agency in 1979. For now, the order marks a significant step, but its ultimate impact remains uncertain pending legislative and judicial outcomes.