Trump’s Latest Move Has the Left Fuming

President Trump signs an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, returning power to states amid criticism over failed federal education policies and billions in wasted spending.

Key Takeaways

Trump’s executive order aims to close the Department of Education and shift control of education back to states and local communities.
The White House claims the Department has spent over $3 trillion since 1979 with minimal improvement in student achievement.
Critical functions like Title I funding, Pell grants, student loans, and civil rights enforcement will be preserved during the transition.
Complete dismantling requires congressional approval, as the Department was created by Congress in 1979.
The administration has already reduced the Department’s workforce by approximately 50 percent.

Returning Education to Local Control

President Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the US Department of Education, fulfilling one of his key campaign promises. The order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.” This sweeping directive targets what the administration describes as an entrenched federal bureaucracy that has failed American students despite enormous financial investments since the Department’s creation in 1979.

The White House has highlighted troubling statistics to justify the move, including poor national education outcomes such as low proficiency in math among fourth and eighth graders. According to administration officials, the federal government has spent over $3 trillion on education since the Department’s creation with little to show for this massive investment. The executive order emphasizes that the Department itself does not directly educate students, yet consumes substantial resources through administrative overhead.

Preserving Essential Functions

Despite the bold move to eliminate the Department, the administration has clarified that certain critical functions will be maintained. These include responsibilities for Title I funding, which supports schools with high percentages of low-income students, Pell grants for college students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and funding for children with disabilities. The Department’s roles in managing federal student loans and civil rights enforcement will also continue, though potentially under different organizational structures.

Secretary McMahon has stated her commitment to removing federal red tape while ensuring a lawful transition. The administration has already taken steps to reduce the Department’s workforce, with plans to cut staff by approximately 50 percent. The executive order also includes provisions limiting federal education funds from supporting programs labeled as “diversity, equity, and inclusion” or those promoting gender ideology, reflecting the administration’s policy priorities.

Legal and Political Challenges Ahead

Experts note that completely dismantling the Department of Education requires congressional approval since the Department was established by an act of Congress in 1979. This reality suggests that the executive order represents the beginning of a longer process rather than an immediate elimination. Legal challenges are anticipated, with opponents already voicing strong objections to the order. Federal funding currently constitutes approximately 14% of public school budgets, often providing critical support for vulnerable student populations.

The idea of eliminating the Department of Education has been a long-standing goal for many conservatives who believe education decisions should be made at the state and local levels. Supporters of the move, including organizations like Parents Defending Education, applaud the shift toward greater local control. The executive order represents a significant step in the administration’s broader effort to reform the American education system according to conservative principles of federalism and parental rights.