In a bold move that echoes one of his key campaign promises, President Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order on Thursday that seeks to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. The move, long anticipated by both supporters and critics, is likely to have significant political and legal repercussions, with various groups already mobilizing to challenge it.
Even before the order is signed, it has already been met with resistance from a coalition of Democratic state attorneys general. These legal experts have filed a lawsuit to block Trump’s attempt to dismantle the department, which could also result in the layoffs of nearly half its workforce, as announced last week.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a leading civil rights organization, has also strongly criticized the move, labeling it unconstitutional, the NAACP has argued that the decision could disproportionately harm disadvantaged communities who rely on federal education programs and services.
While Trump and his billionaire advisor Elon Musk have previously worked to shut down government programs such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) without Congressional approval, the proposed closure of the Department of Education would represent a more dramatic step. It would be the first time a sitting president has attempted to abolish a cabinet-level agency, a move that has the potential to reshape the landscape of U.S. education policy.
However, experts point out that Trump cannot fully shutter the agency without Congressional legislation. While the Republican Party holds a slim majority in the Senate, securing enough votes for such major changes will be a tall order as abill to eliminate a cabinet-level agency would require 60 votes, meaning at least seven Senate Democrats would need to support the move.
In response to the expected executive order, Democratic Senator Patty Murray has pledged to fight back against what she has referred to as Trump and Musk’s “slash and burn” campaign. Murray, a vocal advocate for public education, condemned the potential closure, calling it an attack on the vital services that millions of American students depend on.
The executive order, once signed, will direct Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education. The plan would return education authority to the states while ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of essential services, programs, and benefits to the American public. A key provision of the order also stipulates that any remaining funds from the Department of Education must not be used to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) or gender ideology programs.
As the controversy surrounding Trump’s executive order unfolds, one thing is clear: the fight over the future of the Department of Education is far from over. Legal challenges, political debates, and grassroots mobilization will likely intensify in the coming months, as the nation grapples with the implications of such a sweeping change to its educational framework.
With tensions running high and the order yet to be fully enacted, the next chapter in this ongoing saga promises to be a defining moment in the ongoing battle over the role of federal government in American education.
