WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education.
“We’re going to eliminate it, and everybody knows it’s right,” he said Thursday at the White House. “We’re not doing well in education, and we haven’t for a long time.”
He criticized U.S. schools, saying the country spends more per student but ranks near the bottom in performance. He claimed 70% of eighth graders lack proficiency in reading and math. He also said 40% of fourth graders struggle with basic reading.
Trump wants to shift education control back to the states. After signing the order, he held it up beside Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Several Republican governors, including Ron DeSantis, Mike DeWine, Michael Braun, Gregg Abbott, and Kim Reynolds, joined him.
In two months, his administration has cut the Education Department’s staff by half. Officials plan to transfer some responsibilities to other agencies.
Congress must approve a full shutdown. The Senate would need 60 votes, meaning seven Democrats must support it. Trump acknowledged this challenge. “I hope they’ll vote for it because it may come before them,” he said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News the department will shrink. A White House official confirmed that student loans, Pell Grants, Title I funding, and disability programs will remain but may be moved to other agencies later.
Trump instructed McMahon to “put herself out of a job.” After her Senate confirmation, she wrote a letter titled Our Department’s Final Mission, stating her goal was to eliminate bureaucratic waste.
“Hopefully, she will be the last secretary of education,” Trump said.
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Last week, nearly two dozen Democratic attorneys general sued to stop the cuts. They argue the move is unconstitutional.
