President Trump has finally fulfilled a major campaign promise that Republicans have talked about for decades. His latest executive order to dismantle the Department of Education marks a seismic shift in federal education policy that has liberals panicking. Nobody thought it would ever actually happen!
At a glance:
- Trump signed an Executive Order to begin dismantling the Department of Education, transferring authority back to states
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon will oversee the department’s downsizing, which has already resulted in laying off half its workforce
- The move fulfills a vision first proposed by Ronald Reagan 43 years ago
- Complete elimination requires congressional approval, but Trump’s order significantly reduces the department’s size and scope
- Critics argue the department has failed to improve student achievement despite spending $3 trillion since its creation in 1980
Trump Delivers on 43-Year Republican Promise
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order Wednesday demanding the dismantling of the Department of Education, marking a historic shift in educational policy and fulfilling a decades-old Republican goal. The move represents a direct challenge to federal control over education that began when President Jimmy Carter established the department in 1979, against strong Republican opposition.
The Executive Order instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin closing the department and returning authority over education to states and local communities where it rightfully belongs. Half of the department’s workforce has already been laid off as part of the administration’s commitment to shrinking the federal bureaucracy that conservatives have long criticized.
Prioritizing Parental Control and State Authority
The Department of Education has spent approximately $3 trillion since its creation without demonstrating meaningful improvements in student achievement, according to administration officials. Under the Biden administration, significant funds were diverted to controversial DEI initiatives while test scores reached historically low levels, further eroding public confidence in federal education management.
Critical Functions Maintained Despite Democrat Opposition
While the Executive Order aims to significantly reduce the department’s size, the administration has emphasized that certain critical functions will be maintained – both because Trump believes those critical functions are important, and because it would require Congressional approval to dismantle it entirely.
Student loan programs and Pell grants will continue to operate, addressing concerns about financial support for higher education even as the department’s regulatory footprint shrinks.
Democrats have predictably opposed the move, filing lawsuits and claiming the action endangers education funding. However, a recent poll indicates that a majority of parents support reducing the federal department’s size and influence, reflecting growing frustration with Washington’s heavy-handed approach to education policy.