In a game-changing move, the Trump administration is drafting an executive order that could mark the end of the Department of Education. This drastic decision is part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to fulfill his campaign promises. Two sources familiar with the plan revealed that the order would unfold in two stages.
Part one: executive action
The first step will see the Secretary of Education tasked with creating a detailed plan to reduce the department’s influence. The executive order will direct the secretary to take action. Trump is determined to dismantle the department swiftly and decisively. But this won’t be easy. To completely eliminate the department, Trump will need Congress on board.
Part two: congressional push
The second part of the plan involves pushing Congress to pass legislation that officially ends the department. While the executive order can start the process, only Congress has the power to fully eliminate the agency. The plan is ambitious and will face challenges, but the Trump administration is moving forward with confidence.
Trump’s vision for education
Trump’s latest comments shed light on his vision. He stated, “I told Linda, ‘I hope you do a great job in putting yourself out of a job.’” The president’s nominee for Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, has yet to undergo her confirmation hearing. McMahon, who previously led the Small Business Administration, is expected to play a key role in the overhaul of U.S. education.
A long-standing debate
The idea of abolishing the Department of Education isn’t new. Over the years, several politicians have called for the department’s elimination or proposed merging it with other federal agencies. Despite these efforts, Congress has always rejected such plans. In Trump’s first term, a proposal to combine the Education and Labor Departments was shot down even with Republican control of Congress.
The battle to reduce bureaucracy
This year, the Education Department is under further scrutiny. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has set its sights on the department. Employees at the Education Department were placed on paid administrative leave as part of Trump’s larger strategy to eliminate those linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Trump’s criticism of the education system
Trump has frequently criticized the Education Department, calling it a symbol of government overreach. He often ties it to broader cultural issues, saying, “We will drain the government education swamp and stop the abuse of your taxpayer dollars.” For Trump, the department represents everything wrong with the current educational system, especially its cost and performance.
Trump also highlighted the nation’s educational failures. “We spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, and we’re ranked at the bottom of the list,” he said. Trump advocates for policies that would make it easier for families to use taxpayer dollars for private education. He has repeatedly called for states to take control of their own schools.
Possible impact on programs
Even if the Education Department is eliminated, some programs could still survive. Federal funding for K-12 schools, which supports low-income students and children with disabilities, predates the department’s creation. These programs could be reassigned to other agencies. Some of the education programs that exist today were originally housed in various agencies before the department was established in 1979.
Congressional resistance
History shows that Trump’s efforts to cut the Education Department’s budget may face significant resistance. In past administrations, Congress often rejected cuts to the department’s funding. The Brookings Institution found that, on average, Congress appropriates more funding than the president requests about 71% of the time. Even during Trump’s first term, when he proposed cutting the Education Department’s budget, Congress increased it.
A bold step ahead
Trump’s move to eliminate the Department of Education is bold. It promises to reshape the future of U.S. education. Whether the plan will succeed or fail remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Trump is committed to shaking up the status quo. This executive order is just the beginning of a battle that will unfold in the halls of Congress and the courts.
Stay tuned as the Trump administration pushes for a radical change in the nation’s education system.
