A major shift is happening.
President Donald Trump is advancing plans to eliminate the Department of Education, following through on a campaign promise to dismantle the agency, which he criticized as being filled with “radicals, zealots, and Marxists.” Trump is expected to sign an executive order to officially begin the process, aiming to shift control of education from bureaucracies back to families. Supporters argue that the department has failed to serve American students, with a White House fact sheet pointing to declining National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores as evidence of a national crisis in education.
Harrison Fields, the White House’s principal deputy press secretary, told Fox News that the influx of illegal immigrants and the rise of ideologies like Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in schools have strained resources and distracted from the needs of American students. He added that Trump’s executive order would empower parents, states, and local communities to improve educational outcomes for all students.
The order follows the Senate’s confirmation of Linda McMahon, former WWE CEO, to lead the Department of Education. McMahon expressed her support for Trump’s vision, emphasizing her role in overseeing a “new era of accountability” at the agency. She referred to the elimination of bureaucratic inefficiency as a critical mission.
The American Federation of Teachers swiftly opposed the order, arguing that it would harm the educational system. Randi Weingarten, president of the union, criticized the move, highlighting a poll showing that over 60% of Americans strongly oppose dismantling the department. She warned that abolishing it would undermine efforts to ensure equal educational opportunities for all children.
Despite billions in education spending, student outcomes have remained disappointing. The White House pointed to alarming statistics, such as 13 high schools in Baltimore where no students were proficient in math, and criticized funding directed toward teaching “radical ideologies.” The Trump administration has also canceled grants that funded programs promoting race-based discrimination and gender identity ideologies.
While Trump has voiced support for returning education to the states and expanding school choice, including options for public, private, charter, or faith-based schools, his executive order requires Congressional approval. Given that the Department of Education can only be abolished by Congress, Trump faces a significant challenge, as this would require at least 60 votes in the Senate, where the current Republican majority is 53.
Despite the hurdles, there is some support in Congress for eliminating the department. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced a measure in January to abolish the agency by December 2026, citing the need for local communities to shape school curricula.
Trump has made it clear that, although he nominated McMahon to head the Department of Education, his ultimate goal is to see her position eliminated as part of his broader plan to decentralize education. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that Trump is committed to following through on his campaign promise to dismantle the department, which was established in 1980 to support and coordinate federal education programs. The department’s budget for fiscal year 2024 is $79.1 billion.
Trump has argued that the Department of Education has contributed to the “government education swamp” and has used taxpayer dollars to promote ideologies he believes the American people oppose. Critics also point to recent NAEP scores, which showed stagnation in math and a decline in reading, as further evidence of the department’s failure to improve educational outcomes.
