President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, fulfilling a long-standing Republican goal and a key promise of his re-election campaign.
The order, signed Thursday, tasks Education Secretary Linda McMahon with taking “all necessary steps” to close the department and transfer authority over education to states and local communities. However, abolishing the agency entirely would require congressional approval—a move likely to spark fierce debate.
Restructuring Federal Education Oversight
The Trump administration has already slashed the department’s workforce by half and eliminated various contracts, particularly those linked to equity and diversity programs. Under Trump’s adviser Elon Musk, the newly created Department of Government Efficiency has cut federal funding for initiatives deemed “woke” and wasteful.
The Department of Education is responsible for distributing billions in federal aid to schools and universities, managing the nation’s student loan portfolio, and enforcing civil rights protections in education. Dismantling it would mean redistributing these responsibilities across multiple agencies.
Trump has made clear his intentions to reform federal education funding, vowing to strip schools and colleges of federal aid if they teach critical race theory, gender studies, or “inappropriate political content”. His administration is also expected to push for school choice programs and an end to teacher tenure.
Student Loan and Higher Education Impact
One of the department’s largest roles is overseeing $1.5 trillion in student loans and financial aid programs such as Pell Grants and FAFSA. Trump has criticized President Joe Biden’s debt forgiveness initiatives, calling them unconstitutional and unfair. His administration has not yet outlined a clear plan for handling student loan repayment policies.
Civil Rights and Title IX Changes
The Office for Civil Rights, which investigates discrimination cases in education, is also set for significant changes. Trump’s administration has prioritized complaints of antisemitism while moving to limit protections for transgender students under Title IX. The administration has also launched investigations into race-based diversity programs at dozens of universities.
What Comes Next?
While the executive order is a symbolic first step, dismantling the Education Department will face legal and political hurdles. Congressional approval would be required to reassign billions of dollars in education funding.
Opposition is expected from Democrats, educators, and civil rights groups, who argue that eliminating federal oversight could worsen educational disparities.
However, Trump’s base sees the move as a victory against federal overreach, reinforcing his push to reshape American education.
With the 2026 midterms looming, the fate of the Education Department will likely become a major political battleground in the months ahead.
