Trump Set to Sign Executive Order to Dismantle the Department of Education

Trump Set to Sign Executive Order to Dismantle the Department of Education

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a move that would mark a historic shift in American education policy, President Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order directing the closure of the U.S. Department of Education as early as Thursday, according to a report in The New York Post. The decision, which aligns with Trump’s longstanding pledge to eliminate the federal education agency, is expected to task Education Secretary Linda McMahon with overseeing the dismantling process.

According to The New York Post report, Trump’s draft order instructs McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department” to the “maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.” The order, which has been labeled “pre-decisional,” underscores the administration’s stance that federal oversight of education has “failed our children, our teachers, and our families.”

This development comes after years of Trump campaigning on the promise of reducing federal involvement in education and “sending education back to the states.” The executive order has been in the works since Trump’s transition and is expected to be one of the most controversial moves of his administration.

Linda McMahon, who was confirmed as Education Secretary just this week, wasted no time addressing the pending executive order. The New York Post reported that McMahon, 76, cited the initiative in an internal email to Education Department staff only hours after her confirmation, stating that she had been tasked with leading the “momentous final mission” of eliminating “bureaucratic bloat” within the agency.

McMahon, a co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment and wife of professional wrestling broadcaster Vince McMahon, is expected to work closely with Republican lawmakers to shape a transition plan that phases out federal control over education while maintaining key programs. The New York Post report noted that she has been cautious in discussing the outright elimination of the department, acknowledging in her Senate confirmation hearing that such a move “certainly does require Congressional action.”

However, she assured lawmakers that vital programs such as Title I funding for low-income schools, Pell Grants, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness would remain intact despite the agency’s dismantling.  McMahon’s goal will be to “present a plan that I think our senators could get on board with, and our Congress could get on board with, that would have a better-functioning Department of Education.”

Trump has made no secret of his desire to radically reshape the nation’s education system. The New York Post report recalled that as far back as December, he told Time Magazine that he envisioned at least a “virtual closure” of the Education Department. At a rally in Wisconsin last September, he went even further, promising supporters:

“We will drain the government education swamp and stop the abuse of your taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America’s youth with all sorts of things that you don’t want to have our youth hearing.”

His decision to appoint McMahon as Education Secretary in November signaled his intent to shift more educational authority to individual states. The New York Post reported that McMahon’s appointment was a calculated move to push for decentralization—a stance widely supported by Republican lawmakers who argue that the Department of Education has failed in its mission.

The push to eliminate the agency comes amid mounting concerns over declining national test scores. The U.S. currently ranks 20th out of 41 nations in educational performance, according to an analysis by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data places American students behind their peers in Canada and much of Europe.

Additionally, student performance has suffered significantly in the wake of COVID-19 school closures. The New York Post report highlighted that reading proficiency among eighth-graders has hit its lowest level in 32 years, reinforcing Republican claims that the Department of Education has failed to adequately respond to the crisis.

Trump’s plan to dismantle the Education Department has been met with fierce resistance from Congressional Democrats. Critics characterize the initiative as an effort to “destroy” public schools for the benefit of billionaires who could then privatize the education system.

Democrats argue that Trump’s proposal will disproportionately harm marginalized communities, particularly low-income students who rely on federal funding and oversight. They also warn that dissolving the Department of Education could lead to inconsistent educational standards across states, with some implementing policies that could limit diversity, restrict curricula, and eliminate protections for vulnerable students.

Meanwhile, The New York Post report noted that Trump’s allies in Congress have pointed to the agency’s $268 billion annual budget as evidence of excessive spending and bureaucratic inefficiency. Republicans argue that state and local governments are better positioned to manage education policy without federal interference.

While the elimination of the Department of Education remains a long-term goal, Trump’s administration is already taking significant steps to reshape federal education policy. The New York Post reported that McMahon has pledged to enforce executive actions that ban transgender athletes from competing on women’s sports teams, as well as cracking down on anti-Semitism on university campuses and abolishing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

These measures align with Trump’s broader agenda to combat what he calls “leftist indoctrination” in public schools and universities. The report in The New York Post highlighted that these policies are likely to face legal challenges, but they demonstrate the administration’s commitment to reshaping the education system along conservative principles.

The impending executive order is expected to set the stage for a contentious legal and political battle over the future of federal education policy. While Trump can use his executive authority to initiate the department’s closure, Congress will ultimately need to pass legislation to finalize the process.

With McMahon at the helm, Republicans will push for a phased transition that shifts power to the states while maintaining critical funding streams. However, Democrats are expected to mount a vigorous defense of the Education Department, making it unlikely that the agency will be fully dismantled without a broader legislative fight.

As The New York Post report emphasized, Trump’s executive order is not just a policy shift—it is a declaration of war against the federal education bureaucracy. Whether it succeeds or stalls in Congress, it will undoubtedly shape the political debate heading into the next election cycle.