On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin shutting down the U.S. Department of Education. Trump said he wants to return control of education to individual states. The department has managed national education policy since it was created by Congress in 1979 during President Jimmy Carter’s term.
Trump explained his reason for this decision by saying, “My administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department. We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. It’s doing us no good. We want to return our students to the states.”
At the White House ceremony, President Trump was surrounded by school children, who signed their own papers as he signed the order. Education Secretary Linda McMahon was instructed to start taking apart the department immediately. Trump said he hoped McMahon would be the last education secretary.
The executive order is officially named “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities.” Trump’s order stated, “The Federal education bureaucracy is not working,” pointing to test results from 2024 which showed that 70% of 8th graders were below proficient in reading and 72% were below proficient in math.
However, many important education programs will not end. The White House promised that programs providing financial help, like Pell Grants for college students and Title I funding for low-income schools, will continue. Support for disabled students, provided by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), will also remain in place. Pell Grants currently support around seven million students, while Title I funding helps between half and two-thirds of America’s public schools.
Even though President Trump has ordered the department’s closure, only Congress can actually remove a cabinet-level department completely. To do this, at least 60 out of 100 U.S. senators must agree. Right now, there are 53 Republicans in the Senate, so it would be challenging for Trump’s plan to pass.
Many people disagree with the president’s decision. Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the House minority, said, “Shutting down the Department of Education will harm millions of children in our nation’s public schools, their families and hardworking teachers. Class sizes will soar, educators will be fired, special education programs will be cut and college will get even more expensive.”
Teachers’ unions also plan to challenge Trump’s order. Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, responded strongly, saying, “See you in court.”
Other groups have raised concerns as well. Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, believes this decision is “political theater, not serious public policy.” Mitchell added, “The administration and Congress should focus on improving on the important work that the department performs that benefits ordinary Americans, not unilateral and thoughtless cuts to the department’s workforce and ability to serve Americans.”
In recent months, Trump’s administration had already reduced the department’s staff from about 4,133 workers down to 2,183 through layoffs and voluntary resignations. These actions were part of a broader government reduction led by the Department of Government Efficiency.
Many Republicans have supported closing the department for a long time. Congressman Thomas Massie from Kentucky even introduced a bill in January that would end the department by 2026. Similar efforts in the past did not succeed.
Trump’s recent actions match closely with a plan called Project 2025, created by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative organization. This plan sees the Department of Education becoming a smaller agency that mainly gathers data for the states.
Some Republicans like the idea of giving money directly to states through block grants without strict rules on how to spend it. This means states could choose how to support low-income students or those with disabilities. Trump has also promoted using public money to help parents pay for private education, a policy known as school choice. Additionally, Trump’s administration quickly stopped diversity, equity, and inclusion programs shortly after taking office and ended investigations into school book bans.
This article is based on the following articles:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/20/trump-executive-order-education-department
https://www.newsweek.com/which-department-education-functions-being-saved-2048414
Background Information
What is the Department of Education?
The U.S. Department of Education is part of the federal government. A “department” in this context is a large group of people who work together to manage a specific area important to the country, like education, defense, or transportation. Each department is led by someone called a “Secretary,” who is appointed by the president and approved by the U.S. Senate.
Why Was the Department of Education Created?
In the 1960s and 1970s, people in America became more concerned about providing equal educational opportunities for all children, regardless of their background. Many believed that education was key to solving problems like poverty and discrimination. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter and Congress decided to create the Department of Education to help address these issues at a national level.
Before this, education decisions were almost entirely made by individual states and local communities. By creating the department, the federal government hoped to make education fairer by supporting schools with extra resources, ensuring students’ civil rights, and helping families afford college.
The Roles of Federal and State Governments in Education
In the United States, education responsibilities are shared between the federal government (the government for the whole country) and state governments (each state has its own government). Here is how the responsibilities differ:
- Federal Government:
- Gives financial help to schools, especially those serving low-income families or students with disabilities.
- Protects students from discrimination based on race, gender, or disability.
- Provides college students financial aid, such as grants and loans.
- Collects and shares information about how students across the country are performing academically.
- State and Local Governments:
- Decide what subjects are taught in schools.
- Hire teachers and school administrators.
- Fund and operate local schools.
- Set rules for school days, attendance, and graduation requirements.
What Are Executive Orders?
An executive order is an official instruction from the president telling government departments or agencies how to do their jobs. The president does not need approval from Congress to sign executive orders, but these orders cannot violate existing laws or the U.S. Constitution. If Congress or courts believe an executive order breaks laws or the Constitution, they can stop it from taking effect.
Congress and Its Role in Government
Congress is part of the legislative branch of the U.S. government, responsible for making laws. It consists of two parts:
- House of Representatives:
- Has 435 members.
- Each state’s number of representatives depends on its population.
- Representatives are elected every two years.
- Senate:
- Has 100 members (two from each state, regardless of state size).
- Senators are elected for six-year terms.
To pass laws or make major decisions, both the House and Senate must agree. When a decision involves removing a department from the government, like the Department of Education, Congress must specifically approve the removal.
Political Parties in the U.S.
In America, two major political parties often disagree on how the country should be run:
- Republican Party (sometimes called the GOP):
- Usually prefers that state and local governments handle issues like education instead of the federal government.
- Often supports less spending and fewer government rules.
- Democratic Party:
- Often supports a larger federal government role, believing it helps create fairness and equality.
- Usually favors more spending on public programs like education and healthcare.
Key Educational Programs and Terms
- Pell Grants:
- Federal grants (free money) given to college students who have financial need. Unlike loans, Pell Grants do not need to be paid back.
- Title I Funding:
- Federal money provided to schools with many students from low-income families, intended to help these schools offer better education and resources.
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):
- A law ensuring that students with disabilities receive appropriate education tailored to their needs.
Why Do Some People Support or Oppose the Department?
- Supporters of the Department:
- Believe that the federal government can help make education fairer by providing money and resources to schools that need them most.
- Argue that without federal oversight, some states might not protect students’ civil rights effectively.
- Opponents of the Department:
- Think that education decisions are better made locally, closer to students and families.
- Often argue that the federal government spends too much money without improving educational results significantly.
What Is Project 2025?
Project 2025 is a plan created by the Heritage Foundation, a group that promotes conservative ideas. It suggests making the federal government smaller and giving states more control. In education, Project 2025 aims to reduce federal involvement, allowing states to have more freedom to choose how they educate children and spend education money.
What are School Vouchers and School Choice?
- School Vouchers:
- Money provided by the government to parents, allowing them to send their children to a school of their choice, including private or religious schools, instead of public schools.
- School Choice:
- Policies that allow families to choose schools outside their normal neighborhood, including charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, or homeschooling options.
Supporters of these ideas believe families should have more freedom in selecting the best education for their children. Opponents worry that vouchers and school choice could take money away from public schools.
Next Steps and Possible Challenges
Any major change like shutting down a department faces many steps and legal challenges. People or organizations that disagree with the president’s order can challenge it in court. Also, Congress must decide if they agree with the president’s decision and vote on it. This process can take a long time, and it’s uncertain if it will happen at all.
Debate/Essay Questions
- Does closing the Department of Education improve or harm the quality of education in the U.S.? Why or why not?
- If the Department of Education is closed, what might be the impact on low-income families and students with disabilities? Is there a way to ensure they still receive support? Explain your ideas.
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