President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 20, 2025, directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The decision reignites long-standing conservative efforts to shrink federal oversight in public education and return power to the states.
What the Executive Order Says
The order calls for a phased drawdown of the department’s operations, with the goal of eventually eliminating it altogether. While a full shutdown would require congressional approval, this executive action is designed to kickstart the process by:
- Cutting back federal programs,
- Reallocating responsibilities to state governments, and
- Revisiting the federal role in student loans and civil rights enforcement.
Trump stated during the signing:
“Education should be decided by parents and communities—not unelected Washington bureaucrats. We’re giving control back to the people.”
What the Department Does
The U.S. Department of Education, established in 1979, is responsible for:
- Disbursing federal funding to K-12 schools and colleges,
- Overseeing student loans,
- Enforcing civil rights laws in educational institutions,
- Supporting programs for low-income students and students with disabilities.
Critics argue that eliminating the department could devastate these programs and widen disparities in access and quality across states.
Supporters vs. Critics
Supporters claim that:
- The department is bloated and inefficient,
- Federal involvement leads to one-size-fits-all policies, and
- Local districts should have the freedom to set their own curricula and priorities.
Critics warn that:
- The move could gut protections for vulnerable students,
- Undermine national education standards, and
- Leave low-income communities without critical resources.
Legal challenges are expected, with civil rights groups and education advocates preparing to contest the order in court.
What’s Next?
The executive order is only step one. For the department to be formally abolished, Congress would need to pass legislation—something that’s far from guaranteed in a divided political climate.
In the meantime, federal education programs may face deep cuts, while states could find themselves scrambling to fill the gaps.
Bottom Line
Whether you see it as deregulation or dismantling, Trump’s move to strip down the Department of Education marks a major turning point in U.S. education policy. Supporters call it liberation for local schools—critics call it a dangerous step backward.