5On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to dismantle the Department of Education, advancing a significant part of his long-standing promise to overhaul the nation’s education system. For years, conservatives have criticized the department as a bureaucratic, wasteful institution deeply influenced by liberal ideology, and this order marked a bold step toward eliminating the agency entirely—though with some key caveats.
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While President Trump has frequently lambasted the Education Department for its alleged inefficiencies and overreach, the executive order is unlikely to result in the agency’s immediate closure. This is because such a decision would require legislation passed by Congress, which created the department in 1979. However, Republicans in Congress are already planning to introduce bills that could work to dismantle the agency, providing further momentum to the initiative.
Despite the call to eliminate the Education Department, the White House emphasized that it would not cease operations entirely. Some critical functions of the agency, including Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell Grants, and financial aid for students with disabilities, will remain in place. The administration also confirmed that federal student loan management would continue, ensuring that the department’s most essential tasks are preserved.
Trump’s stance on the department has remained consistent throughout his presidency. He argued that the U.S. is lagging behind other countries academically and believes that states, rather than the federal government, should have control over education systems. “It’s doing us no good,” Trump said during a ceremony at the White House, signaling his desire for local control and accountability.
Education Department Cuts Already Underway
Even before the executive order, the Trump administration had already significantly reduced the size and scope of the Education Department. Its workforce has been slashed by about half, and there have been deep cuts to key offices such as the Office for Civil Rights and the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers critical data on the nation’s academic progress.
Criticism from Public Education Advocates
The response to the executive order has been swift and overwhelmingly negative from public education advocates. Critics argue that eliminating the Education Department would exacerbate inequalities in America’s educational system, particularly for vulnerable students in poor and rural communities.
“The elimination of the Education Department is a dark day for millions of American children who depend on federal funding for a quality education,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson. He pointed out that many of these children come from communities that overwhelmingly supported Trump in the 2016 election, and they would now face the consequences of this decision.
Democrats have vowed to challenge the order in both Congress and the courts. Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, described Trump’s move as “dangerous and illegal,” warning that it would disproportionately harm students of color, those with disabilities, and low-income students.
The Education Department was established not only to oversee the federal funding of schools but also to enforce civil rights protections for students. Critics argue that the dismantling of the department could result in a return to a more segregated and unequal education system.
Republican Support and Conservative Vision for Education
While Trump’s executive order has drawn heavy criticism, many conservative groups have expressed support for the move, believing that local control over education would lead to more effective and innovative systems. Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, hailed the decision on social media, stating, “No more bloated bureaucracy dictating what kids learn or stifling innovation with red tape. States, communities, and parents can take the reins — tailoring education to what actually works for their kids.”
One of the central tenets of conservative education reform has been the push for block grants, where federal funds are allocated directly to states with fewer strings attached. Critics, however, warn that this could leave vulnerable students, such as those from low-income families or with disabilities, without the vital support they need.
Will the Department’s Dismantling Actually Happen?
While the executive order reflects Trump’s commitment to reducing the size of the federal government, even some of his allies have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of closing the Education Department without congressional action. Furthermore, polling on the issue suggests that it may not have widespread political support. For example, in 2023, a proposal to eliminate the Education Department was considered by the House, but it failed to gain traction, with 60 Republicans joining Democrats in opposing it.
During Trump’s first term, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos attempted to cut the department’s budget and bundle K-12 funding into block grants to give states more control. However, that proposal faced significant resistance, even from Republicans.
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The Future of Education in America
As Trump’s executive order continues to make waves, the future of education in America remains uncertain. Whether or not the Education Department will ultimately be dismantled is still a question that hinges on legislative action. For now, however, Trump’s executive action serves as a stark reminder of the deep divisions in the country regarding how education should be managed—federal versus state control, centralized versus decentralized decision-making, and the balance of power between the government and local communities.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the future of American education is poised for a major shift, and how that shift unfolds will have far-reaching implications for students, educators, and the broader educational landscape.