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Friday, Feb 07, 2025
Outside the box.
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Trump Administration Preparing Executive Order to Abolish the Department of Education
The Trump administration is working on an executive order designed to reduce and ultimately phase out the Department of Education, although it would need Congressional approval to proceed.
The Trump administration has started working on an executive order aimed at kicking off the process to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education.
Sources familiar with the plan indicate that the draft order would instruct the Secretary of Education to create a strategy to reduce the department’s influence through executive measures.
Furthermore, the president is anticipated to advocate for Congressional legislation to formally abolish the department since its dissolution requires legislative consent.
President Trump has conveyed his expectation for his choice for Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to “put herself out of a job” by scaling back the department's activities.
McMahon, who previously led the Small Business Administration, has yet to have her confirmation hearing for the position.
The discussion around abolishing or merging the Education Department has been a recurring theme, though past efforts have not garnered enough support in Congress.
During Trump’s initial term, his administration suggested combining the Education and Labor Departments into a single entity, a proposal that did not progress despite Republican majorities in both houses.
Alongside this effort, the Department of Government Efficiency, chaired by Elon Musk, is also targeting the Education Department as part of a larger initiative to reform the federal workforce.
The Trump administration has already placed numerous employees from the Education Department on paid administrative leave, specifically those involved in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives.
Trump, who has frequently criticized the federal involvement in education, particularly regarding taxpayer funding for public schools, contends that education spending in the U.S. is excessively high compared to the results.
He promotes increased local control over education, asserting that states should have the power to manage their educational systems.
Even if the Department of Education is effectively abolished, it's possible that certain educational programs and funding could be integrated into other federal agencies.
Before the department was established in 1979, education-related initiatives were overseen by various other agencies.
Federal funding initiatives for K-12 schools, including aid for low-income students and children with disabilities, existed prior to the department's inception.
Historically, initiatives to reduce the Education Department's budget have encountered considerable pushback in Congress, with legislators often increasing funding beyond what the president proposed.
An analysis by the Brookings Institution revealed that Congress has overridden presidential budget cuts to the department around 71% of the time.
Sources familiar with the plan indicate that the draft order would instruct the Secretary of Education to create a strategy to reduce the department’s influence through executive measures.
Furthermore, the president is anticipated to advocate for Congressional legislation to formally abolish the department since its dissolution requires legislative consent.
President Trump has conveyed his expectation for his choice for Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to “put herself out of a job” by scaling back the department's activities.
McMahon, who previously led the Small Business Administration, has yet to have her confirmation hearing for the position.
The discussion around abolishing or merging the Education Department has been a recurring theme, though past efforts have not garnered enough support in Congress.
During Trump’s initial term, his administration suggested combining the Education and Labor Departments into a single entity, a proposal that did not progress despite Republican majorities in both houses.
Alongside this effort, the Department of Government Efficiency, chaired by Elon Musk, is also targeting the Education Department as part of a larger initiative to reform the federal workforce.
The Trump administration has already placed numerous employees from the Education Department on paid administrative leave, specifically those involved in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives.
Trump, who has frequently criticized the federal involvement in education, particularly regarding taxpayer funding for public schools, contends that education spending in the U.S. is excessively high compared to the results.
He promotes increased local control over education, asserting that states should have the power to manage their educational systems.
Even if the Department of Education is effectively abolished, it's possible that certain educational programs and funding could be integrated into other federal agencies.
Before the department was established in 1979, education-related initiatives were overseen by various other agencies.
Federal funding initiatives for K-12 schools, including aid for low-income students and children with disabilities, existed prior to the department's inception.
Historically, initiatives to reduce the Education Department's budget have encountered considerable pushback in Congress, with legislators often increasing funding beyond what the president proposed.
An analysis by the Brookings Institution revealed that Congress has overridden presidential budget cuts to the department around 71% of the time.
