President Trump to Sign Executive Order Calling for Shutdown of U.S. Education Department
President Trump to Sign Executive Order Calling for Shutdown of U.S. Education Department
In a bold move that is sure to spark controversy, President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Thursday calling for the shutdown of the U.S. Education Department. This action fulfills a campaign promise to eliminate an agency that has long been a target of conservatives.
According to a White House official who spoke to Scripps News on the condition of anonymity, President Trump will sign the order during an event at the White House, with GOP governors and state education officials in attendance. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is among those confirmed to be present.
President Trump has been a vocal critic of the Department of Education, labeling it as wasteful and tainted by liberal ideology. The executive order will direct Secretary Linda McMahon to take steps to facilitate the closure of the department and return education authority to the states, while ensuring the continued delivery of essential services and programs.
The Trump administration has already been reducing the agency’s workforce through layoffs and program cuts, with deep cuts to key departments such as the Office for Civil Rights and the Institute of Education Sciences. The department oversees billions of dollars in funding to schools and manages $1.6 trillion in federal student loans.
Critics of the move argue that the federal government plays a crucial role in supporting vulnerable students and overseeing civil rights enforcement in schools. The agency also provides funding for colleges and universities, supporting research grants and federal financial aid for students.
While the idea of closing the Education Department has been discussed for years by Republicans who believe it oversteps its boundaries, there are doubts about the feasibility and popularity of such a move. Even some of President Trump’s allies question his authority to shut down the agency without congressional approval.
As the nation awaits the outcome of this executive order, the future of education policy in the United States hangs in the balance. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
