A new update from the white house has revealed that the president of the United States of America, President Donald Trump, this move aligns with Trump’s longstanding objective to decentralize federal control over education and delegate authority to individual states. The president is anticipated to sign an executive order soon, possibly as early as Thursday, directing his newly confirmed Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, to initiate the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. Reports from U.S. media, including The Wall Street Journal, indicate that a draft of this executive order instructs McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department” within the limits of the law.
During his campaign for re-election, Trump emphasized his intention to decentralize education, proposing the redistribution of the department’s powers to state governments. Established in 1979 under former President Jimmy Carter, the Department of Education cannot be entirely dismantled without Congressional approval, which requires a minimum of 60 votes in the Senate.
Despite this challenge, there is potential for significant reductions in programs and staffing within the department, which could severely impact its operations. This prospect has raised concerns among Democrats, teachers’ unions, and many parents who view the proposed changes as detrimental to the public education system.
Linda McMahon, a 76-year-old business executive and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, expressed at a Senate education committee hearing the idea that the “excessive consolidation of power” in Washington is detrimental to education. She advocated for promoting “education freedom” rather than government control. Furthermore, reports from The Washington Post suggest that McMahon and other officials may propose reallocating certain functions of the Education Department to other federal entities in their efforts to dismantle it, a move that could lead to legal disputes.
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The draft order instructed Secretary McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department” within legal boundaries. While completely abolishing the department requires Congressional approval—necessitating at least 60 votes in the Senate—the administration aims to significantly reduce its programs and staff, potentially crippling its operations.
