Donald Trump signed an executive order yesterday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the elimination” of the Department of Education, advancing a long-standing Republican goal and creating uncertainty for millions of students and citizens [1], [2], [3]. Official closure requires congressional approval and potentially a 60-40 majority in the Senate, where Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority, according to the BBC.
Polls from the past two months show that nearly two-thirds of voters oppose shutting down the department.
Trump argued that the move would give states and local governments more “power,” though they already control educational programs and provide 90% of school funding. The Department of Education, with a $268 billion budget, manages federal student loans—affecting 43 million Americans with a total debt of $1.69 trillion—and oversees student performance, special education programs, free school meals, and services for students with disabilities.
The order also calls for ensuring the “effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits that Americans rely on” but does not specify whether these functions would be transferred to another department. Before signing the order, the administration had already cut $600 million in federal grants and laid off more than half of the department’s employees, including many in the Office for Civil Rights, which ensures equal educational opportunities for all students.
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