Trump Set to Order Dismantling of Education Department

WASHINGTON, 6 March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order as early as Thursday, instructing his newly appointed Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, to begin dismantling the department she now leads, according to US media reports.

A draft of the executive order, cited by The Wall Street Journal, directs McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department” to “the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.”

Trump, 78, has long championed the decentralisation of education, arguing that control should be returned to state governments. During his campaign for re-election, he pledged to reduce federal oversight in education, a move that has sparked fierce opposition from Democrats, teachers’ unions, and parents who fear it will weaken the public education system.

Legal and Political Challenges
The US Department of Education, established in 1979 under former President Jimmy Carter, cannot be abolished without congressional approval, requiring at least 60 votes in the Senate. However, Trump’s administration could severely limit its influence by cutting programmes and staff, effectively crippling its operations.

McMahon, a 76-year-old businesswoman and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, defended the move at a Senate hearing last month, arguing that “the excessive consolidation of power” in Washington had harmed education. “So what’s the remedy? Fund education freedom, not government,” she stated.

According to The Washington Post, McMahon and other officials have considered reallocating some of the department’s responsibilities to other federal agencies, though such efforts are expected to face legal challenges.

Wider Implications
The move aligns with broader Republican efforts to curtail federal authority and promote school choice, including expanding private school vouchers and reducing regulations on charter schools. Critics argue that dismantling the department could jeopardise funding for disadvantaged students and special education programmes. The debate over federal involvement in education has been a long-standing issue in US politics, with past Republican administrations also advocating for a reduced role.