Trump signs order to ‘dismantle’ US education department despite fierce opposition

In a dramatic move to reshape the federal government, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 20 aimed at dismantling the US Department of Education, fulfilling a long-standing conservative goal to transfer educational authority to individual states.

At a ceremony in the White House’s East Room, Trump, flanked by school children seated at desks, held up the signed order and declared: “We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. It’s doing us no good.”

The Department of Education, established in 1979, cannot be formally abolished without congressional approval. However, Trump’s order is expected to significantly reduce its funding and workforce, accelerating its decline. The directive instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps” to facilitate the agency’s closure.

The move aligns with Trump’s broader effort to overhaul the federal government, a campaign he is undertaking with the backing of tech mogul Elon Musk. It also delivers on a key promise from Trump’s reelection campaign, where he pledged to “return education back to the states where it belongs.”

Fierce opposition from democrats, educators

The order has sparked outrage from Democrats and education advocates, who warn that dismantling the department will undermine support for low-income schools and threaten critical civil rights protections for students.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blasted the decision as a “tyrannical power grab” and “one of the most destructive and devastating steps Donald Trump has ever taken.”

Despite the backlash, leading Republican governors, including Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas, attended the signing ceremony in a show of support.

A ‘beautiful day’ for conservatives

Trump’s selection of McMahon — former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment—as education secretary signaled his intent to scale down the department. She has already slashed its workforce and reiterated the administration’s goal of redirecting funds directly to states.

“President Trump wants to get those dollars back to the states without the bureaucracy of Washington,” McMahon told reporters.

The White House has suggested that a downsized department may remain in place to manage student loans and grants, though the details remain unclear.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that has influenced many of Trump’s policy decisions, celebrated the move. “It’s a beautiful day to dismantle the Department of Education,” the organization wrote on X.

A broader push to shrink government

Trump’s administration, with Musk’s Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE) playing a key role, has already gutted several federal agencies by cutting programs and eliminating staff. A similar attempt to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was blocked earlier this week by a federal judge, who ruled that the move likely violated the Constitution.

Education has long been a battleground in America’s culture wars, with Republicans arguing that the federal government should have little role in shaping curricula and standards. While federal contributions make up only about 13% of funding for public K-12 schools, they are critical for special education programs and schools serving low-income students.

As Trump continues his aggressive push to restructure the federal government, the battle over the future of American education is just beginning.