Signing an executive order to destroy the Department of Education, President Donald Trump is fulfilling a campaign promise and a long-cherished ambition of some conservatives. Aiming to transfer education control to the states, the Trump Education Policy marks a significant change.

Charging the agency with “breathtaking failures,” the Republican president promised to reimburse the funds under control to particular states.

“We’re going to shut it down as quickly as possible,” Trump declared during the White House signing event. The government did admit, though, that closing the agency would require congressional action.

Conservative critics who contend that government participation in education should be limited have long targeted the Department of Education. Many contend that rather than being guided by federal laws, state and municipal governments should make decisions about education.

Legal Difficulties the Executive Order Must Deal With?

Legal challenges from individuals trying to stop the agency’s dissolution as well as broad personnel cuts announced last week are already confronting the action. Like other initiatives by the Trump Education Policy aimed at shrinking the federal government’s scope, the executive order is expected to be subject to more court challenges.

Civil rights groups and experts in education policies have voiced worries about how tearing down the department would unfairly impact underprivileged kids. Many worry that the elimination of government supervision will lead to differences in access to high-quality education and finance for various schools.

Trump’s announcement of the movement?

Surrounded by kids sitting at White House school desks, Trump said, “The US spends more money on education by far than any other country,” yet he pointed out that students rank almost last in the world. The White House said the government would target cutting off areas of the department still within legal bounds.

Although American students trail behind their overseas peers based on performance measures in literacy, math, and science, education expenditure in the United States is among the highest in the world. Trump promised to reduce federal participation in education and has regularly attacked what he regards as “wasteful spending” in the system.

Linda McMahon served what function?

Trump hailed Linda McMahon, whom he named as Secretary of Education, at the signing ceremony, hoping she would be the final person to bear that title. “We’ll discover something else for her to do within the administration,” Trump said.

McMahon has been a fervent supporter of school choice, charter schools, and less government supervision in education overall. She has underlined the need to give parents and local people back control over decisions.

Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy declared intentions to submit laws aiming at department closure following the signing of the order. But given Republicans only a slender 53-47 control in the Senate, the plan would call for 60 votes to pass, which makes success doubtful.

Can the Department be weakened absent Congress?

Following a similar approach to what it did with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Trump administration might drastically cut funds and staff even if the department is not formally dissolved. Budget cuts caused USAID to lose strength, which resulted in the cancellation of numerous initiatives including humanitarian ones.

The executive order’s language leaves out details on the particular actions the government will take or which programs might be eliminated. It orders McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure” of the agency and to hand power to state and municipal governments. The directive also tells her to guarantee “the effective and continuous delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”

The Department of Education’s activities?

Originally founded in 1979, the Department of Education oversees initiatives helping low-income students as well as student loans. Trump has charged the agency of brainwashing youth with political, sexual, and racial content. Emphasizing state and local government empowerment and federal oversight elimination, the Trump Education Policy

Most US children attend public schools, governed by local officials mostly sponsored by state and local taxation. Although many people believe the federal education department runs classrooms and develops curricula, state, and local governments handle these tasks. Just over 13% of budgets for elementary and secondary schools come from federal sources.

Millions of Americans depend on government student loans, which the agency also heavily oversees to pay for college. Should the department be disassembled, control of student loans might be passed to the Treasury Department, sparking questions regarding possible bureaucratic inefficiencies and program accessibility.

In what ways are department staff members responding?

Shortly after becoming office, McMahon wrote a message to the 4,400 staff members in the department stating “Our Department’s Final Mission,” therefore indicating the administration’s intention to close it.

“This is our chance to do one last, unforgettable public service to the next generations of students,” she wrote. “I hope you will help me to ensure that when our last mission is complete we will be able to say that we left American education freer, stronger, and with more hope for the future.”

The intended staff and funding cuts have caused uncertainty among staff members; many of them worry about the future of federal education initiatives and their job stability. The transformation process is likely to cause around 2,100 staff members to take leave.

What Opponents of the Move Said?

Teachers’ unions and those supporting education have objected to Trump’s proposal. Declaring that Trump “doesn’t care about opportunity for all kids,” America’s biggest teachers’ union has fiercely denounced the move.

The American Federation of Teachers said in a statement, “Everyone’s in favor of more efficiency, so let’s find ways to do that; none likes bureaucracy. But don’t assault the kids living in poverty and the kids with disabilities with a “war on woke.”

Eliminating the Department of Education, according to critics, would compromise federal safeguards for low-income families and handicapped kids, among other disadvantaged groups. Federal supervision guarantees states follow civil rights laws and give every student equal chances.

Why have Conservatives Long Opposed the Department?

Conservatives have opposed the existence of the Department of Education for more than forty years. Two years after Democratic President Jimmy Carter founded it, Ronald Reagan, his Republican successor, spearheaded campaigns to destroy it.

Comprising less than 2% of the government budget overall, the department is the smallest entity in the president’s cabinet today.

Proponents of dissolving the agency contend that state governments should handle educational issues since they can customize programs to fit their requirements. Eliminating federal control, they say, would enable more creative and locally driven educational changes.

The Trump Education Policy staff cuts, spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), have already impacted some department personnel. Starting Friday, about 2,500 agency employees are scheduled to be on leave.

Tech mogul Elon Musk has watched efforts by Doge to drastically restructure or completely abolish numerous government institutions to cut federal expenditure.

Future Events

Now, Congress and the court are certain to determine the fate of the Department of Education. Should Congress fail to pass laws legally closing the department, Trump’s government could nonetheless drastically undermine it through staff layoffs and budgetary cuts.

Teachers, legislators, and parents alike are left wondering what the future of American education will look like in the years to come as discussions over the Trump Education Policy continue.