Trump Administration Poised to Begin Dismantling Department of Education
In a bold move that aligns with campaign promises to reduce federal influence in education, President Trump is expected to sign an executive action as early as Thursday that would begin the process of shuttering the Department of Education, BreezyScroll has learned.
According to a draft of the action obtained by NPR, the directive will instruct newly confirmed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.”
The executive action comes just days after McMahon’s Senate confirmation, which Democrats unanimously opposed after she publicly committed to dismantling the department she now leads.
Legal limitations acknowledged
The draft action includes important qualifications, directing McMahon to act “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law” – language that recognizes the significant legal hurdles facing the administration’s plans.
Education policy experts note that the Department of Education was established by Congress in 1979, and many of its core functions are protected by federal statutes that cannot be eliminated without congressional approval. Such legislation would likely require 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
When contacted about the pending action, the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Justification for closure
The order justifies the move by claiming that “since its founding in 1979, the Department of Education has spent more than $1 trillion without producing virtually any improvement in student reading and mathematics scores.”
“The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars … has failed our children,” the draft executive action declares.
However, data from The Nation’s Report Card shows a more nuanced picture. While reading scores have remained relatively stable between 1992 and 2019, mathematics achievement improved considerably during that period. Educational outcomes have been significantly impacted by the pandemic, with many learning gaps persisting nearly five years after initial school closures.
The department already facing cuts
The administration has already begun reducing the department’s footprint. Last month, significant cuts were made to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), which collects and disseminates critical education data and research.
Several grant programs have been canceled, including initiatives focused on accelerating math learning and helping students with disabilities transition from high school to employment.
Additionally, dozens of probationary employees have been laid off, with others placed on paid leave for associations with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs.
McMahon’s confirmation and plans
Following her confirmation on Monday, McMahon sent a message to department staff framing the unwinding as “our opportunity to perform one final, unforgettable public service to future generations of students.”
During her Senate confirmation hearings, McMahon committed to executing the president’s directive to dismantle the department, saying she would present Congress with a plan that she hoped “our senators could get on board with.”
Future of key educational funding
A major concern surrounding the department’s closure is the fate of crucial federal funding programs, particularly Title I for students in lower-income communities and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for students with disabilities.
Federal dollars constitute approximately 10% of public school funding nationwide but are targeted toward supporting the nation’s most vulnerable students, including those in rural and low-income communities and children with disabilities.
McMahon has repeatedly stated that dismantling the department does not necessarily mean cutting these programs. “It is not the president’s goal to defund the programs. It was only to have it operate more efficiently,” she told senators during her confirmation hearings.
She suggested that statutorily protected programs like IDEA might be transferred to other agencies, such as the Department of Health and Human Services, rather than eliminated.
Education advocates remain concerned about how these changes might affect the services and protections currently provided to millions of American students, particularly those with the greatest needs.
