In a significant policy shift that could reshape American education, President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Thursday to begin dismantling the Department of Education, the White House announced. The move aligns with long-standing conservative efforts to reduce federal involvement in schooling and transfer control to state and local governments.
The signing ceremony will take place at the White House and is expected to be attended by several prominent Republican governors, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, once a political rival of Trump. The event will highlight the administration’s commitment to expanding school choice and returning decision-making power to parents and local communities.
“President Trump’s executive order to expand educational opportunities will empower parents, states, and communities to take control and improve outcomes for all students,” White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement on Wednesday.
While the executive order will initiate the process of dismantling the Department of Education, the agency’s complete elimination would require congressional approval, making its fate uncertain. Established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, the department plays a crucial role in administering federal education funds, enforcing civil rights protections, and setting nationwide educational standards.
Shortly after being confirmed by the Senate, Education Secretary Linda McMahon sent a memo titled “Our Department’s Final Mission,” urging department staff to view the dissolution as an opportunity to serve students one final time. “This is our opportunity to perform one final, unforgettable public service to future generations of students. I hope you will join me in ensuring that when our final mission is complete, we will be able to say that we left American education freer, stronger, and with more hope for the future,” the memo read.
The push to eliminate the Department of Education has been a Republican priority for decades, with critics arguing that federal oversight creates excessive bureaucracy and inefficiencies. Supporters believe that shifting control to states and local governments will lead to greater innovation, flexibility, and better student outcomes.
Despite the executive order, major federal education programs—including student loans, Title I funding for low-income schools, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)—will remain unchanged for now, according to senior administration officials. However, questions remain about which federal agency would oversee these programs if the Department of Education is fully dissolved.
Trump has previously floated the idea of transferring student loan management to the Department of the Treasury, the Small Business Administration, or the Department of Commerce. These proposals align with his broader agenda to streamline government operations and reduce federal involvement in education.
The executive order is already facing strong opposition from Democratic lawmakers and education advocates, who warn that dismantling the Department of Education could create chaos in funding, weaken accountability measures, and harm vulnerable student populations. They argue that the department plays a vital role in ensuring equal access to quality education across states and enforcing federal protections for marginalized communities.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a vocal critic of the move, denounced it as “reckless and shortsighted.” “By dismantling the Department of Education, President Trump is stripping away critical protections for students, particularly those from low-income and marginalized backgrounds,” Warren said.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers and conservative organizations have praised the order, calling it a necessary step toward reducing government overreach in education. Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio applauded the decision, stating, “This is a long-overdue move to give power back to parents and local communities. Washington bureaucrats should not be dictating how children are educated.”
The move also aligns with the broader Republican strategy of reducing the size of the federal government, a key pillar of the party’s platform in recent years. The Trump administration has actively sought to decentralize multiple federal agencies, arguing that states are better equipped to handle issues like education, healthcare, and welfare.
As the debate over the future of the Department of Education unfolds, the executive order is expected to ignite legal and political battles, with Democrats and education advocacy groups preparing to challenge the move in court.
With Congress deeply divided on the issue, the future of American education policy hangs in the balance. Should legislative efforts move forward, the impact on millions of students, educators, and school districts across the nation could be profound, reshaping the landscape of U.S. education for years to come.