In a major policy shift, President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive action on Thursday that could lead to the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. According to a fact sheet provided by the White House, the order will direct Education Secretary Linda McMahon “to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure [of] the Department of Education and return education authority to the States.”
This move, which has been anticipated for months, aligns with the administration’s broader push for reducing federal control over education and empowering state and local governments. USA Today first reported news of Thursday’s signing.
Department of Education Staffing Cuts
The executive action comes amid significant staffing cuts at the Education Department. According to NPR, Trump inherited a department with 4,133 employees, but “nearly 600 workers have since chosen to leave, by resigning or retiring. And last week, 1,300 workers were told they would lose their jobs as part of a reduction in force. That leaves 2,183 staff at the department—roughly half the size it was just a few weeks ago.”
The administration justifies the move by pointing to stagnant student achievement. “Since its founding in 1979, the Department of Education has spent over $3 trillion without improving student achievement,” states the White House fact sheet, according to NPR. While math scores have improved over the past few decades, reading scores have remained largely unchanged, and the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted learning.
Federal Funding for Education
The Department of Education allocates funds for programs that benefit students with disabilities and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. A 2018 U.S. Government Accountability Office report found that federal funds account for between 6% and 13% of public school funding, much of which supports “the nation’s most vulnerable students: those living in low-income communities, including millions of rural students, and children with disabilities” (NPR).
At McMahon’s confirmation hearing, some senators questioned whether dismantling the department would threaten these critical funding streams. McMahon responded, “It is not the president’s goal to defund the programs. It was only to have it operate more efficiently” (NPR). However, without federal oversight, it remains uncertain how these funds will be distributed at the state level.
Reactions and Legislative Challenges
The executive order has sparked debate. Trump’s administration argues that this move will “empower parents, states, and communities to take control and improve outcomes for all students” (NPR). However, critics fear that eliminating the Department of Education could reduce accountability and make it harder to ensure equitable access to quality education across states.
Despite Trump’s executive order, Congress will have the final say. NPR notes that since the Department of Education was created by Congress, dismantling it would “almost certainly require 60 votes in the U.S. Senate to overcome a Democratic filibuster.” Given that an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll from February found that “63% of Americans surveyed said they would oppose getting rid of the department,” legislative approval may be an uphill battle.
As the situation unfolds, the future of federal education policy remains uncertain, with potential implications for schools, teachers, and students nationwide.
