Donald Trump to sign executive order to dismantle the Department of Education
Department of Research, Studies and International News 20-03-2025
The move, expected to take place on Thursday, has already sparked controversy and legal challenges, with Democratic state attorneys general and civil rights organizations mobilizing against it.
According to a White House summary obtained by Reuters, the order seeks to eliminate the department and significantly reduce its workforce. This decision has drawn strong opposition, particularly from a coalition of Democratic attorneys general who have already filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block the measure. Their legal action aims to prevent the department’s closure and halt the widespread layoffs that were announced last week, which would impact nearly half of its employees.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has also condemned the executive order, arguing that it is unconstitutional and harmful to millions of students who rely on federal education funding. NAACP President Derrick Johnson criticized the decision, stating that it disproportionately affects children from low-income and rural communities, including those whose parents supported Trump in past elections.
Trump, along with billionaire adviser Elon Musk, has previously attempted to curtail or eliminate government programs without congressional approval, such as efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development. However, targeting the Department of Education represents an unprecedented effort to shut down a cabinet-level agency.
Despite Trump’s executive order, eliminating the department requires legislative action from Congress. This presents a significant hurdle, as Republican lawmakers hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, but passing such a bill would require at least 60 votes—meaning at least seven Democrats would need to support the measure. So far, Senate Democrats have shown no indication that they would back such an initiative.
The Department of Education, established in 1979, has long been a target of conservative criticism, with opponents arguing that education should be handled at the state and local levels rather than by the federal government. Trump’s campaign repeatedly emphasized the need to reduce federal influence over education, claiming that local control would lead to better outcomes for students and greater parental involvement.
Supporters of the order argue that decentralizing education policy would empower states to implement tailored solutions that better address the needs of their students. However, critics warn that dismantling the department could have far-reaching consequences, particularly for underprivileged students who rely on federal aid and programs to access quality education.
Legal battles are expected to intensify in the coming weeks, as opponents challenge the executive order in court. Meanwhile, education advocates, teachers’ unions, and civil rights groups continue to voice their concerns, warning that the move could disrupt millions of students’ education and widen existing disparities in the system.
As the debate unfolds, the future of the Department of Education remains uncertain. While Trump’s executive order signals his commitment to reducing federal oversight, significant legal and legislative obstacles stand in the way of fully dismantling the agency. Whether Congress will entertain the idea of abolishing a major federal department remains to be seen, but for now, the move has ignited a fierce national debate over the role of the federal government in education policy.
