President Trump on Thursday Instructed Education Secretary Linda McMahon To Begin Shutting Down Her Agency
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin shutting down the U.S. Department of Education—a move that would require congressional approval and is expected to trigger a major political and legal fight.
Executive Order Aims to “Shut It Down”
Speaking from the East Room of the White House, surrounded by schoolchildren at desks, Trump said the order would begin the process to dismantle the department “once and for all,” citing poor student test scores as justification.
“We’re going to shut it down, and shut it down as quickly as possible,” Trump said.
Despite the order, Trump emphasized that certain functions would continue, including administration of federal student aid programs, special education funding, and support for high-poverty districts. Civil rights enforcement would also remain in place, White House officials said.
“These are useful functions,” Trump said. “They’re going to be preserved in full,” adding that some responsibilities would be transferred to other agencies.
Shutting Down the Department Requires Congress
Because the department was created by an act of Congress, only Congress can eliminate it under Article I of the Constitution. That separation of powers has prevented any previous president from trying to unilaterally close a cabinet-level agency.
Still, Trump has already weakened the department’s reach. Since taking office, his administration has cut the agency’s workforce by over 50% and slashed $600 million in grants. Cuts hit especially hard in the Office for Civil Rights, which enforces equal access to education.
Trump’s order gives conflicting directions—telling McMahon to shut down the department while also requiring full compliance with federal law. The order does not explain how both mandates should be carried out simultaneously.
Legal Challenges Already Brewing
Opposition groups and education advocates are preparing to challenge the order in court. Lawyers for supporters of the department argue the move violates the Constitution’s separation of powers clause and the president’s obligation to enforce the law.
They may also cite a June 2024 Supreme Court ruling that weakened executive authority and gave more power to Congress and the courts in interpreting laws.
“See you in court,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, one of several groups planning to sue.
Critics Call It Political Theater
Higher education leaders were quick to criticize the order.
“This is political theater, not serious public policy,” said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education. “To dismantle any cabinet-level federal agency requires congressional approval, and we urge lawmakers to reject misleading rhetoric in favor of what is in the best interests of students and their families.”
Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, warned the move would strip away protections for vulnerable students.
“Before federal oversight, millions of children — particularly those with disabilities and those from our most vulnerable communities — were denied the opportunities they deserved,” she said.
GOP Split on the Plan
While many conservatives support eliminating the department, congressional Republicans now face pressure from both sides. Recent polls show nearly two-thirds of voters oppose closing the agency.
Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who chairs the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said he would introduce legislation to carry out Trump’s plan.
“I agree with President Trump that the Department of Education has failed its mission,” Cassidy said.
Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio echoed the sentiment on social media: “Democrats want federal bureaucrats to control your child’s school. Republicans want to give parents the choice to do what’s best for their children.”
Still, not all Republicans are on board. In the previous Congress, one-fourth of House Republicans voted against a similar proposal to eliminate the department.
Democrats Push Back
Democratic lawmakers dismissed the order as an ideological attack on public education. Representative Bobby Scott of Virginia criticized Trump for “implementing his own philosophy on education which can be summed up in his own words, ‘I love the poorly educated,’” referencing a 2016 campaign remark.
Debate Over Federal Role in Education
While local school districts largely manage their own education systems, the federal Department of Education has played a central role in enforcing civil rights laws, setting academic benchmarks, and guiding compliance with national standards.
Trump’s order underscores a broader conservative argument: that federal involvement hasn’t improved outcomes. His allies point to stagnant test scores as proof.
“The status quo has very clearly failed American children and done little more than line the pockets of bureaucrats and activists,” said Nicole Neily, president of Parents Defending Education.
Still, education experts note that recent test score declines are tied to pandemic-era disruptions—not necessarily long-term federal policy failures. Frederick M. Hess of the American Enterprise Institute said both sides are missing the bigger picture.
“We’re going to have this whole huge national debate and not solve the practical problems along the way,” he said. “Because we’re so focused on the 30,000-foot conversation that we’re not fixing the stuff that’s actually making life tougher for educators and parents.”
What Comes Next
Trump said he hoped Congress would act quickly and that even Democrats might come on board. But that appears unlikely. For now, his executive order may serve more as a political statement than an immediate policy shift.
“I hope they’re going to be voting for it,” Trump said, “because ultimately it may come before them.”
