President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, fulfilling a campaign promise that has delighted conservatives but raised concerns among education advocates. The move seeks to transfer control of school policies to individual states.
Surrounded by schoolchildren seated at desks during the signing ceremony, Trump remarked, “It sounds strange, doesn’t it? Department of Education. We’re going to eliminate it.”
The order follows last week’s announcement by the department that it would cut nearly half of its staff. This is the latest effort by Trump, who has been in office for about two months, to overhaul the federal government and reduce bureaucracy.
The signing event included students, teachers, parents, and state governors who support the initiative, reflecting its appeal to some Republican voters and aligning with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda.
Trump has criticized the Department of Education as inefficient and influenced by liberal ideology. However, completely dismantling the department would require congressional approval, as it was established by Congress in 1979.
Trump acknowledged that the issue would likely need to go before Congress and urged Democrats to support the move. “Everybody knows it’s right, and the Democrats know it’s right, and I hope they’re going to be voting for it, because ultimately it may come before them,” he said. He also pointed to America’s long-standing struggles in global education rankings as a reason for the change.
The president argued that returning education management to states would reduce government costs and improve outcomes. However, he did not provide specifics on how the department’s remaining responsibilities, such as overseeing student loans and grants, would be handled.
Earlier on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the order would lead to a “much smaller” Department of Education, which would continue to manage student loans and certain critical programs.
The move has sparked debate, with supporters praising it as a step toward reducing federal overreach and critics warning it could undermine educational equity and support systems.
