Trump Moves to Dismantle US Education Department

Friday 21 March 2025 - 10:10

By: Zahouani Ilham

Trump Moves to Dismantle US Education Department

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order initiating the closure of the Department of Education, fulfilling a major campaign promise and a long-standing conservative objective. The order, signed at a White House ceremony, represents one of the most significant government restructuring efforts of his administration, carried out with the support of tech magnate Elon Musk.

Trump argues that the move will reduce government spending and improve the nation's educational standards, which he claims lag behind those of Europe and China. For decades, education has been at the center of America's cultural and political debates, with Republicans advocating for state-level control rather than federal oversight.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, stating, "The Department of Education has never educated a child. It has only taken money from taxpayers." The order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take steps to dissolve the department and transfer its authority to individual states.

Trump’s choice of McMahon, a former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, was widely interpreted as a signal that the department’s existence was in jeopardy. Republican governors and conservative organizations, including the Heritage Foundation, have endorsed the move, calling it a victory for local governance.

Despite this order, the Education Department, established in 1979, cannot be legally dissolved without congressional approval, a hurdle given the current political landscape. Nevertheless, Trump and Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have already significantly weakened various agencies by reducing programs and staffing.

Democrats and education advocates have vowed to challenge the move. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, announced legal action against the administration, while Senator Tina Smith declared, “You can't shut down the Department of Education—and you know it.”

Although some critical programs, such as grants for low-income students, are expected to remain intact, the broader dismantling of federal education oversight could have profound implications for funding and civil rights protections. The legal and political battles ahead will likely shape the future of education governance in the United States.