WASHINGTON, March 21 – U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at eliminating the Department of Education, marking a major step toward a long-held conservative goal of shifting control of education from the federal government to individual states.
Surrounded by schoolchildren seated at desks in the White House’s East Room, Trump proudly held up the signed order, declaring that the move would “begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all.”
“We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. It’s doing us no good,” Trump said. “We’re going to return education back to the states, where it belongs.”
Major Overhaul Sparks Controversy
The Education Department, established in 1979, cannot be fully dissolved without congressional approval, but Trump’s order is expected to significantly cut its funding and workforce, potentially rendering it ineffective.
The move fulfills a key campaign promise and is part of a broader effort to restructure the federal government, a task Trump has been advancing with the support of tech billionaire Elon Musk.
The order directs 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.”
Divided Reactions
The decision has been widely criticized by Democrats and educators, who warn it will harm low-income schools and students with special needs.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a “tyrannical power grab”, describing it as “one of the most destructive and devastating steps Donald Trump has ever taken.”
However, Republican governors, including Ron DeSantis (Florida) and Greg Abbott (Texas), attended the signing ceremony, praising the move as a victory for states’ rights.
Trump’s Justification: Cost-Cutting & Higher Standards
Trump defended the decision, arguing that it would save money and improve U.S. educational standards, which he claims have fallen behind those of Europe and China.
“We’re sending billions of dollars to Washington just to have them send it back with more bureaucracy. This is a waste,” Trump said.
Education has been a battleground in America’s culture wars, with Republicans seeking to reduce federal influence over school curricula and funding.
‘A Beautiful Day’ for Conservatives
Trump’s choice of Linda McMahon, the former WWE CEO, as Education Secretary had already signaled that the department was on shaky ground.
“Hopefully, she will be our last Secretary of Education,” Trump said at the ceremony.
McMahon, who has already cut the department’s staff in half, told reporters that Trump “wants to get those dollars back to the states without Washington’s bureaucracy.”
The Future of Federal Education Support
Despite the sweeping order, the White House acknowledged that some federal education functions will remain, including the administration of student loans and grants for low-income students.
“The Department of Education will be much smaller than it is today,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that has backed many of Trump’s Project 2025 initiatives, celebrated the move, posting on X (formerly Twitter):
“It’s a beautiful day to dismantle the Department of Education.”
Broader Government Restructuring
Trump, along with Musk and his Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE), has already dismantled several government agencies, slashing programs and staff in a push to shrink the federal government.
However, similar attempts have faced legal challenges. Earlier this week, a federal judge blocked the dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), ruling that it likely violated the U.S. Constitution.
As Trump presses forward with his government overhaul, battles in Congress and the courts are expected to intensify.
