ISLAMABAD (PEN) : U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at significantly reducing the federal Department of Education, marking the beginning of a broader effort to decentralize education policy and return control to state and local governments. The move is part of a longstanding promise made to conservative voters who favor local control over education.
A Bold Step Toward Dismantling the Department
On March 20, 2025, President Trump, surrounded by students and educators, signed the executive order in a White House ceremony. The president emphasized that the order was the first step toward “eliminating” the Department of Education, a task that would ultimately require Congressional action. While the president acknowledged that fully dismantling the department would require passing a bill through Congress—a goal he described as unlikely without significant bipartisan support—Trump’s actions signaled a strong commitment to the cause.
“We’re going to return education back to the states where it belongs,” Trump declared at the event, standing before a backdrop of state flags. Young students who attended the ceremony signed their own mock executive orders in solidarity with the initiative.
The Path Forward and Resistance
Trump’s order follows recent announcements about significant staff cuts within the department, with nearly half of the workforce set to be laid off. Critics, particularly from the Democratic side, argue that while the president cannot abolish the department without Congressional approval, his efforts to diminish its influence could still have lasting effects. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) warned that Trump’s actions could effectively “gut” the department without the need for formal legislation.
Despite this opposition, Trump remains resolute in his plan. He suggested that Education Secretary Linda McMahon could eventually find herself out of a job, as the executive order reshapes the department’s focus. At the event, Trump emphasized that federal funding for education had yielded unsatisfactory results, citing poor test scores, declining literacy rates, and gaps in math performance as evidence of the department’s inefficiency.
Impact on Education and Federal Programs
The Department of Education currently manages funding and oversight for over 130,000 public and private schools across the nation, including essential programs for students with special needs, arts education, and the administration of federal student loans. Trump’s executive order aims to retain only the most basic functions of the department, such as overseeing student loans and Pell Grants for low-income students.
While local and state governments provide the bulk of funding for public education, the federal government plays a critical role in providing targeted financial support. Programs like Title I, which helps fund low-income schools, and funding for students with disabilities, are among the largest federal education programs. These, along with student loan management, are likely to remain under federal jurisdiction, according to the details of the order.
A Divisive Proposal
Education policy has long been a political battleground in the U.S., with conservatives advocating for greater local control and school-choice options, while liberals typically push for more robust funding for public schools and initiatives focused on diversity and inclusion. Trump’s push to dismantle the Department of Education intensifies this divide, as it aligns with his broader efforts to reduce the size of the federal government and curb what he and many conservatives see as liberal influence in the nation’s schools.
The proposal has already garnered significant attention, with some states welcoming the shift toward local control, while others express concern about the loss of federal support. In recent polling, a majority of Americans (approximately 65%) opposed the closure of the department, while 30% supported it.
As the situation unfolds, Trump and his administration are likely to continue pushing for reductions in federal education involvement, despite the ongoing challenges of gaining Congressional approval and public support. With a polarized debate on the future of American education, this executive order marks a critical chapter in the nation’s ongoing education reform efforts.
