BBC News, Washington, DC
EPAU.S. President Donald Trump has signed executive order Instructing officials to start demolishing the Ministry of Education, a commitment he made during the 2024 campaign.
“We will close it as soon as possible,” Trump said after signing the order on Thursday. “It’s not good for us.”
Trump has long called for layoffs in the department, a precious goal of some conservatives, but has completely shut down the department, which will require Congressional approval – which is unlikely.
The move already faces legal challenges for those seeking to stop the agency’s closure and those announced last week’s layoffs.
“The United States has spent more money on education to date than any other country,” Trump said, but in terms of success, students are “students at the bottom of the list.”
The White House said his administration will cut portions of departments that remain within the boundaries of the legal boundaries.
But many of the Trump administration’s moves — including mass shootings, reducing federal agencies, and targets to cut spending — face legal challenges, and the executive order is expected to encounter similar obstacles.
During the ceremony, Trump praised him for appointing Linda McMahon, who led the department, and expressed his hope that she would be the last education secretary. He said he would find “other things” she did within the government.
After Trump signed the order, Louisiana Republican Senator Act Cassidy announced plans to propose legislation. Aim to close the department.
However, it is unlikely that Congress will take action to eliminate the department, as Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate. The closure of departments would require 60 votes, making such legislation extremely unlikely.
But even if the department is not officially closed, the Trump administration can cut its funds and staff like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which subsequently blocked many of its programs and humanitarian efforts.
The text of the executive order does not include specific details of the actions the executive will take and what plans may be decided.
It ordered McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the department” and authorize such matters to be authorized to state and local governments while “ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits Americans rely on.”
The Ministry of Education was founded in 1979 and is responsible for funding public schools, managing student loans and running programs that help low-income students.
Trump accused young people of instilling racial, sexual and political materials.
A common misconception is that the department opens American schools and sets up courses – but this is done by states and local areas.
Of the funds for primary and secondary schools, relatively small funds (about 13%) come from federal funds. Most are composed of state and local groups.
The agency also plays a major role in managing and overseeing federal student loans used by millions of Americans to pay for higher education.
Shortly after McMahon was sworn in, McMahon sent a memo to the department’s 4,400 employees entitled “The Ultimate Mission of Our Department.”
“This is our opportunity to carry out one last memorable public service to future generations,” she wrote.
“I hope you can work with me to ensure that our final mission is completed; we will be able to say that we will be freer, stronger, and have more hope for the future.”
Earlier reports suggest that Trump hopes to terminate some of the department’s plans and send other departments to different departments, such as the Treasury Department.
Trump and fellow Republicans accused the ministry of promoting a “wake-up” political ideology and said the department was promoting liberal views on gender and race.
The largest teachers union in the United States recently condemned Trump’s plans, saying he “does not care about the opportunities of all children.”
“No one likes bureaucracy, everyone favors greater efficiency, so let’s find ways to achieve this,” Stern said in a statement.
“But don’t use ‘Wake War’ to attack children living in poverty and disabled children to pay billionaires’ vouchers and tax cuts.”
Most American children attend public schools, which are free and ruled by local officials. Almost all of their funds come from state taxes, and the course decisions are made by the state and school districts.
The current cabinet-level department was established by Congress in late 1979.
Two years later, former Republican President Ronald Reagan began calling for the withdrawal of his money savings to save money and prefer “local needs and preferences.”
With 4,400 employees, it is the smallest agency in the presidential cabinet, less than 2% of the total federal budget.
Some of these employees have Already affected The Trump administration, led by the Trump administration at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has laid off employees, and many have urged retirement, firing or arranging paid executive leave.
The agency’s layoffs will affect nearly 2,100 people, and they will take leave starting March 21.
Doge’s efforts to cut federal spending and fundamentally reorganize (or simply repeal) many government agencies have been supervised by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
