President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order as early as Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, multiple U.S. media outlets have reported.
According to The Wall Street Journal, a draft of the executive order circulated on Wednesday instructs McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department” while adhering to the “maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.”
Trump, 78, campaigned on decentralizing education policy, arguing that power over schools should be returned to state governments. His administration’s move to dismantle the department aligns with his broader efforts to shrink the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Education, established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, cannot be abolished outright without an act of Congress, requiring at least 60 votes in the Senate. However, Trump’s administration could significantly weaken the department by cutting programs, slashing staff, and redistributing its responsibilities to other agencies.
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This effort has sparked fierce opposition from Democrats, teachers’ unions, and many parents, who view it as an attack on the public education system.
Linda McMahon, 76, a former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) CEO, echoed Trump’s stance during her confirmation hearings. She argued that excessive federal control had harmed education outcomes.
“So what’s the remedy? Fund education freedom, not government,” McMahon said at a Senate education committee hearing last month.
The Washington Post reported that McMahon and other officials have considered transferring some of the department’s functions to other parts of the government as part of their dismantling strategy. However, such efforts could face significant legal challenges.
As Trump moves forward with his plan, the debate over the future of federal education policy is set to intensify, with major implications for schools, students, and educators across the country.
Source: Ripples