Despite Congressional Hurdle,
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at eliminating the Department of Education, fulfilling a long-standing conservative goal to shift education oversight to states. During a ceremony at the White House, Trump criticized the department’s effectiveness, citing declining student performance despite increased federal spending. He assured that essential programs like Pell Grants and Title I funding for disadvantaged students would remain intact while vowing to dismantle the agency as swiftly as possible.
However, since the Department of Education was created by Congress, its formal elimination would require legislative approval. The department primarily manages federal student loans and provides funding to low-income schools, functions that Trump’s order does not immediately alter. Critics, including education unions, condemned the move as an overreach of executive power that could undermine civil rights protections and financial aid access.
The order also aligns with broader conservative efforts to curb federal involvement in education, particularly in areas related to diversity, equity, and gender policies. Legal challenges to Trump’s order are expected, with opponents vowing to fight it in court.
