Washington, March 21 – US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to formally begin dismantling the Education Department, stating that his administration is returning education back to the states. “Beyond the core necessities, my administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department,” Trump said in a speech at the White House on Thursday.
“We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible,” he added, arguing that the department is “doing us no good,” citing low proficiency in reading and math among US elementary, middle, and high school students. Trump emphasized that his administration is committed to giving states full control over education policy, Xinhua news agency reported.
Despite the move, Trump assured that essential programs such as Pell Grants, Title I funding, and resources for children with disabilities and special needs will be “fully preserved” and redistributed to other agencies and departments. Pell Grants provide financial aid to low-income undergraduate students, while Title I directs federal funding to schools serving a high percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The decision has sparked backlash from Democratic lawmakers. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Grace Meng and Education Task Force Chair Rep. Mark Takano released a joint statement condemning the move. “The Trump administration is denying the next generation the resources they need to succeed in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. It is a betrayal to students, parents, and educators,” they said. They also warned that this is an “unlawful decision” and urged Congress to resist the order.
The process of dismantling federal agencies typically requires Congressional approval through legislation. It remains unclear how Trump intends to bypass Congress with this executive order. He has long criticized the Education Department, arguing that despite substantial federal investment, the quality of education has fallen short, particularly in reading and math proficiency.
Trump has also accused the department of harboring individuals with left-wing ideologies, calling it a “hotbed of radicals, zealots, and Marxists.” He argues that these individuals have expanded their power through excessive regulations and believes that returning educational authority to the states will curb federal overreach.
Earlier, the Education Department initiated large-scale layoffs, with reports indicating that nearly half of its 4,000 employees were cut. Trump confirmed the downsizing, stating, “We’ve cut the number of bureaucrats in half, 50 percent.” He hailed the “reduction in force” as a success, reinforcing his broader agenda of minimizing federal bureaucracy.