Trump Moves to Dismantle Department of Education Having Signed Executive Order

[Social Media]

 

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at shutting down the Department of Education, marking the first formal step toward dismantling the federal agency. Speaking as he signed the order, Trump declared that "everybody knows this is the right thing to do" and expressed hope that Democrats would support the measure.

🇺🇸✍️ Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the US Department of Education

“Today we are taking a very historic step that has been in the works for 45 years. 70% of eighth graders are not proficient in either reading or math,” he added. pic.twitter.com/a5pQcGlmIM

— MAKS 24 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) March 20, 2025

 

"We have to get our kids educated," Trump stated, arguing that the US has failed to properly educate students for a long time. He emphasized that the federal government should not be in charge of education and that the responsibility should return to individual states.

 

In his speech, Trump announced that the order would "begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all," a statement met with applause from the audience. Among those present were Education Secretary Linda McMahon, whom Trump hopes will be the "last secretary of education," along with Texas Governor Gregg Abbott and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, both of whom he acknowledged during his remarks.

 

 

Trump insisted that the closure of the department would happen as quickly as possible, claiming that the US spends "more money on education by far than any other country" but ranks "near the bottom of the list in terms of success." He assured teachers that they would be supported regardless of whether they were part of a union and concluded his speech by wishing McMahon good luck, adding that they would "find something else" for her to do.

 

Shortly after Trump signed the order, the Department of Education issued a statement calling it a "history-making action" that would "free future generations of American students and forge opportunities for their success." The statement echoed Trump’s assertion that eliminating the department would return education to the states, "where it so rightly belongs."

 

A common misconception, the statement noted, is that the Department of Education directly operates schools or sets curricula, when in fact those responsibilities fall to states and local districts. Only about 13% of funding for primary and secondary schools comes from federal sources. The statement assured that closing the department "does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them," pledging continued support for students with special needs, college students, and other beneficiaries. "We’re going to follow the law and eliminate the bureaucracy responsibly by working with Congress and state leaders to ensure a lawful and orderly transition," the department said.

 

However, despite Trump’s executive action, shutting down the Department of Education is far from certain. The president cannot unilaterally abolish the agency—he would need congressional approval, likely requiring a supermajority in the Senate, meaning 60 out of 100 senators would have to vote in favor. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority, at least seven Democrats would need to support the move, making it a difficult political challenge.

Even in the House of Representatives, the proposal faces strong resistance. A previous attempt to abolish the department failed when 60 Republicans joined all Democrats in voting against it.

 

Trump has recently pushed to reduce the size of several federal departments, though the legality of these efforts has been questioned. Whether his bid to dismantle the Department of Education will gain the necessary legislative backing remains uncertain, but the order signals his determination to pursue one of his long-standing policy goals.

 

Based on a report by BBC  2025-03-21

 

 

[hotsun]

Good move. Public education is becoming a joke

[spidermike007]

If this is true it would be very typical and another harebrained Trump move, done in a rushed manner without much forethought, and with absolutely no wisdom guiding the principle of the move. The man is a human wrecking ball, and he seems to be absolutely determined to diminish the influence of America around the world and destroy its economy. 

[CallumWK]

4 hours ago, hotsun said:

Good move. Public education is becoming a joke

 

Your post confirms it always has been the case

[dinsdale]

5 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

If this is true it would be very typical and another harebrained Trump move, done in a rushed manner without much forethought, and with absolutely no wisdom guiding the principle of the move. The man is a human wrecking ball, and he seems to be absolutely determined to diminish the influence of America around the world and destroy its economy. 

All this because he wants to gut a bloated, ineffective federal dept. of senseless waste and send the responsibility of education back to the states. I just don't get the constant hate. I said a long time ago he could bring world peace and eliminate all poverty and disease globally and people like you would still find hatred.

[transam]

Just now, dinsdale said:

All this because he wants to gut a bloated, ineffective federal dept. of senseless waste and send the responsibility of education back to the states. I just don't get the constant hate. I said a long time ago he could bring world peace and eliminate all poverty and disease globally and people like you would still find hatred.

How do you know that is Trumps actual reason, and why didn't he do that in his first big chair period.

 

In fact, why didn't he do all the sh_t he is doing now, back then........?

 

You are supporting and continuously making excuses for a fruitcake........😜

[Dan O]

13 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

All this because he wants to gut a bloated, ineffective federal dept. of senseless waste and send the responsibility of education back to the states. I just don't get the constant hate. I said a long time ago he could bring world peace and eliminate all poverty and disease globally and people like you would still find hatred.

The responsibility already lies with the states so this is a nothing burger as he can't shut the department down completely as Congress controls that aspect. He'll have some impact on possible funding and admin size but he's off the track again like several other orders he's written. This will be in court in short order

[dinsdale]

1 minute ago, Dan O said:

The responsibility already lies with the states so this is a nothing burger as he can't shut the department down completely as Congress controls that aspect. He'll have some impact on possible funding and admin size but he's off the track again like several other orders he's written. This will be in court in short order

From what I gather it's not about shutting it down completely and you are correct this would have to be approved by Congress and that 'aint going to happen. It more about getting rid of the bloat and the influence over curriculum. 

[RubenRemus]

4 hours ago, hotsun said:

Good move. Public education is becoming a joke

In many states its great. What do the states where it's crap have in common? 

[hotsun]

1 minute ago, RubenRemus said:

In many states its great. What do the states where it's crap have in common? 

Blue states

[Emdog]

7 minutes ago, RubenRemus said:

In many states its great. What do the states where it's crap have in common? 

Not blue, red, but yours was an ignorant guess, so we are failing educationally. With Mississippi leading the pack, about 22% of it's ed budget comes from Feds.

Trump is a prime example of educational failure. I knew more US history and Constitution facts when I was 11 than he knows now... and he went to private schools and was enrolled (doubted he attended) at Ivy League Business school and still know squat about tariffs. Can't fix stupid

Check this out

[Yagoda]

Thank god, folks under 40 are far less educated that they would have been without woke bearucrats fiddling with the 3 Rs.

5 hours ago, hotsun said:

Good move. Public education is becoming a joke

It has been for 60 years.

[hotsun]

2 minutes ago, Emdog said:

Not blue, red, but yours was an ignorant guess, so we are failing educationally. With Mississippi leading the pack, about 22% of it's ed budget comes from Feds.

Trump is a prime example of educational failure. I knew more US history and Constitution facts when I was 11 than he knows now... and he went to private schools and was enrolled (doubted he attended) at Ivy League Business school and still know squat about tariffs. Can't fix stupid

Check this out

In new york they are teaching kids that israel is a fake country. Nice graph

[Yagoda]

3 minutes ago, Emdog said:

I knew more US history and Constitution facts when I was 11 than he knows now.

Well If you take the positions opposite to that taken by him, guess we will see who is right. Like the Travel Ban in his first term.

 

By the way, since you are a constitutional scholar, you know that he is entitled to seek the elimination of the ED Dept, right

[Chomper Higgot]

Schools in impoverished Republican controlled districts will suffer the worst consequences of this madness.

 

Turkeys voting for Christmas.

[Emdog]

6 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Well If you take the positions opposite to that taken by him, guess we will see who is right. Like the Travel Ban in his first term.

 

By the way, since you are a constitutional scholar, you know that he is entitled to seek the elimination of the ED Dept, right

Clearly you aren't a scholar

"Congress created the current Cabinet-level department in 1979 through bipartisan legislation that consolidated various educational programs that were previously spread across different agencies.

The Constitution doesn’t give Trump the power to close the department because it was created through legislation, and the president can't unilaterally overturn laws. Trump has not challenged the legislation creating the department as unconstitutional, which would kick the issue to the courts to sort out."

I picked USA Today as it is not seen as liberal medium

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/06/constitution-trump-education-department/81749837007/

[Chomper Higgot]

12 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Well If you take the positions opposite to that taken by him, guess we will see who is right. Like the Travel Ban in his first term.

 

By the way, since you are a constitutional scholar, you know that he is entitled to seek the elimination of the ED Dept, right

Clearly you are no Constitutional scholar.

 

The Congress makes and remarks laws, the process is not subject to Presidential edict.

[Yagoda]

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Clearly you are no Constitutional scholar.

 

The Congress makes and remarks laws, the process is not subject to Presidential edict.

That has nothing to do with the point I made. Are you alleging that the President is not entitled to seek the elimination of any Cabinet Department, or create another?

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

Good.

 

When a Department is so clearly broken, it is easier to dismantle and replace than to try to repair.

 

 

[stevenl]

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

Good.

 

When a Department is so clearly broken, it is easier to dismantle and replace than to try to repair.

 

 

What is broken about the department?

[RayC]

I am astonished to learn that a Department of Education currently exists in the US.

 

.....

 

(It's a joke ..... Where's your sense of humour?)

[Yagoda]

31 minutes ago, Emdog said:

Clearly you aren't a scholar

"Congress created the current Cabinet-level department in 1979 through bipartisan legislation that consolidated various educational programs that were previously spread across different agencies.

The Constitution doesn’t give Trump the power to close the department because it was created through legislation, and the president can't unilaterally overturn laws. Trump has not challenged the legislation creating the department as unconstitutional, which would kick the issue to the courts to sort out."

I picked USA Today as it is not seen as liberal medium

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/06/constitution-trump-education-department/81749837007/

 

26 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Clearly you are no Constitutional scholar.

 

The Congress makes and remarks laws, the process is not subject to Presidential edict.

So both of you contend that once Congress establishes an agency, it is forever? The President is not entitled to seek legislation from Congress to abolish it?

 

You guys need to study up.

[Chomper Higgot]

7 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

 

So both of you contend that once Congress establishes an agency, it is forever? The President is not entitled to seek legislation from Congress to abolish it?

 

You guys need to study up.

Yes the President can ask Congress to abolish a law, he can’t do so with his sharpie.

 

 

[Yagoda]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Yes the President can ask Congress to abolish a law, he can’t do so with his sharpie.

 

 

Who said that he is?

[Cameroni]

25 minutes ago, stevenl said:

What is broken about the department?

LGBTQ+ Books for Schools

Recommended titles that reflect on the LGBTQ+ experience and books about Pride, tolerance, and diversity.

 

https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/lgbtq-books-schools

 

This is actually good to see, that Trump targets the  DOE, it shows it is not a personal vendetta to go after his enemies, he is really pursuing policy, ie saving taxpayer money and eliminating what is harmful.

 

[stevenl]

19 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

LGBTQ+ Books for Schools

Recommended titles that reflect on the LGBTQ+ experience and books about Pride, tolerance, and diversity.

 

https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/lgbtq-books-schools

 

This is actually good to see, that Trump targets the  DOE, it shows it is not a personal vendetta to go after his enemies, he is really pursuing policy, ie saving taxpayer money and eliminating what is harmful.

 

In Florida those books have been banned already. So it already is up to the states?

[Cameroni]

23 minutes ago, stevenl said:

In Florida those books have been banned already. So it already is up to the states?

 

It is not just about the infestation of schools with LGBTQ ideology, it is again part of the drive to save taxpayer money I think.

 

No doubt the DOE is massively bloated with useless eaters, much like USAID.

 

Also the DOE has been doing a terrible job, the performance of US students in international comparison has been abysmal.

[stevenl]

14 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

It is not just about the infestation of schools with LGBTQ ideology, it is again part of the drive to save taxpayer money I think.

 

No doubt the DOE is massively bloated with useless eaters, much like USAID.

 

Also the DOE has been doing a terrible jop, the performance of US students in international comparison has been abysmal.

LOL,

So your earlier argument doesn't hold up, never mind, let's make up some new ones.
Education is already up to the states, Big differences in performance, but you blame the DoE in stead of the states, Makes no sense.
No doubt massively bloated. Maybe, maybe not. But you clearly don't know, so that's just a presumption. But you still defend the decision based on that assumption.

So 'I support because Trump says so' seems to be the case here. As I said earlier, lack of critical thinking.

[Cameroni]

11 minutes ago, stevenl said:

LOL,

So your earlier argument doesn't hold up, never mind, let's make up some new ones.
Education is already up to the states, Big differences in performance, but you blame the DoE in stead of the states, Makes no sense.
No doubt massively bloated. Maybe, maybe not. But you clearly don't know, so that's just a presumption. But you still defend the decision based on that assumption.

So 'I support because Trump says so' seems to be the case here. As I said earlier, lack of critical thinking.

 

The argument does hold up, the ideological flavour of the DOE is a part cause of its downfall, no doubt. But there are other reasons too.

 

Indeed the performance of US students in international comparisons has been absolutely embarassing, since the DOE oversees education clearly it has done a terrible job.

 

The DOE has a budget of 268 BILLION USD. The scope for savings is tremendous. Great job Trump!

 

I look forward to the conservative school curriculum "Why cheating is wrong for girls".

[stevenl]

6 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

The argument does hold up, the ideological flavour of the DOE is a part cause of its downfall, no doubt. But there are other reasons too.

 

Indeed the performance of US students in international comparisons has been absolutely embarassing, since the DOE oversees education clearly it has done a terrible job.

 

The DOE has a budget of 268 BILLION USD. The scope for savings is tremendous. Great job Trump!

 

I look forward to the conservative school curriculum "Why cheating is wrong for girls".

Sad level of education when you contradict your own argument and don't even realise that.