IN FOCUS
Trump Signs Executive Order to Dismantle U.S. Department of Education
Washington, D.C. – March 20, 2025 – President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, calling it an effort to return control over education to the states.
Key Highlights:
- Trump declared, “We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible.”
- The decision has sparked backlash from educators, parents, and Democratic lawmakers who argue that it undermines federal support for students.
- The executive order does not immediately eliminate the department, as congressional approval is required to officially dissolve a federal agency.
- Secretary of Education Linda McMahon supports the plan and has pledged to oversee major restructuring efforts.
- Trump stated that some federal education functions, such as grants for low-income college students and funding for students with disabilities, will continue.
Opposition and Legal Challenges
- Teachers’ unions and civil rights groups have vowed to challenge the move, with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) president stating, “See you in court.”
- Senator Richard Blumenthal criticized the order, warning it could benefit for-profit schools while harming students reliant on federal aid.
- Legal experts say dismantling the department requires congressional action, making Trump’s executive order more symbolic than immediately effective.
Wider Political Context
- The announcement comes as Trump faces scrutiny over other policy decisions, including U.S.-Russia-Ukraine negotiations and the release of an American citizen held in Afghanistan.
- Trump’s administration has also faced judicial pushback, including a Maryland court blocking the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing Social Security Administration records.
- The president emphasized that the order aligns with his administration’s efforts to reduce bureaucracy and decentralize government functions.
What’s Next?
- The fate of the Department of Education now rests with Congress, where Democrats and some moderate Republicans are expected to oppose its full dissolution.
- Trump has hinted at further executive actions to scale back federal oversight in other areas, continuing his deregulatory agenda.
- Legal battles and legislative debates will determine how much of Trump’s vision for education reform becomes reality.
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