President Donald Trump took a decisive step in his administration’s push to shrink government spending on Thursday, signing an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education.
The move, long championed by conservatives, is part of Trump’s broader campaign to cut federal bureaucracy, a strategy led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is overseen by billionaire Elon Musk.
Flanked by schoolchildren seated at desks in the White House’s East Room, Trump declared, “We’re going to eliminate it, and everybody knows it’s right. The states will take back education, as it should be.”
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 17 (June 9 – Sept 6, 2025) today for early bird discounts. Do annual for access to Blucera.com.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and co-invest in great global startups.
Register to become a better CEO or Director with Tekedia CEO & Director Program.
The order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the states. However, despite Trump’s pledge to eliminate the agency once and for all, his administration has acknowledged that the department cannot be fully abolished without congressional approval.
Trump’s Push to Cut Government Spending Faces Legal Challenges
The move to dismantle the Department of Education is part of Trump’s broader effort to reduce federal spending by targeting agencies and programs deemed wasteful. The White House has backed the DOGE to identify and eliminate redundant government programs.
Under DOGE’s guidance, Trump has issued a series of executive orders to liquidate or downsize multiple agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has faced deep budget cuts, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which Trump attempted to dissolve before being blocked by the courts. Now, the Department of Education is facing the same dismantling efforts.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move, saying, “The President is delivering on his promise to cut wasteful government spending. The Department of Education is a relic of federal overreach and an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.”
However, Trump’s executive orders to dismantle agencies have already faced significant legal pushback. A federal district judge in Maryland recently blocked his administration’s attempt to shut down USAID, and similar legal challenges are expected against the move to dissolve the Education Department.
Congressional and Legal Challenges Loom
The executive order immediately triggered opposition from Democrats, teachers unions, and education advocates, who vowed to challenge its legality.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a top appropriator for education funding, criticized the move. “Trump knows perfectly well he can’t abolish the Department of Education without Congress. But he understands that if you fire all the staff and smash it to pieces, you might get a similar, devastating result.”
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten announced plans to sue the administration. “See you in court. Trump may sign all the executive orders he wants, but he cannot unilaterally destroy public education in America,” Weingarten said.
Legal experts say the courts are expected to weigh in soon, with many counting on the judiciary to halt Trump’s plan. Aaron Ament, President of the National Student Legal Defense Network, said, “This executive order is on shaky legal ground. Let’s be clear: there’s no Executive Order the President can sign to legally eliminate the Department of Education. The courts have already stopped some of his attempts to dismantle agencies, and we expect the same outcome here.”
Mass Layoffs and Workforce Reduction
The Trump administration has already begun the process of gutting the department, with more than 1,300 Education Department employees receiving termination notices last week. This is part of large-scale federal workforce reductions led by Musk’s DOGE.
Since the start of Trump’s second term, the Education Department’s workforce has been slashed by half, from over 4,000 employees to roughly 2,000, through layoffs and voluntary buyouts.
Despite these cuts, the White House insists that federal student aid programs will continue, including Title I grants for low-income schools, Pell Grants and student loans for college tuition, and funding for students with disabilities. However, dissenting voices have warned that without a fully functioning Education Department, there will be no oversight to ensure these programs continue to operate effectively.
Republican Support and Push for State Control
Conservatives have long opposed federal oversight of education, arguing that state and local governments should have full control. Trump’s order, while legally questionable, reflects this broader Republican push to shift education decisions to the states.
House Speaker Mike Johnson welcomed the move, calling the Department of Education “a bloated bureaucracy that meddles in our schools and wastes taxpayer dollars.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has previously advocated for the department’s abolition, said, “This is a long-overdue step toward putting parents and local communities back in charge of education.”
However, it has been noted that federal oversight is essential for protecting civil rights, enforcing education laws, and ensuring equal funding for disadvantaged communities.
Ban on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives
Trump’s order also prohibits the use of federal education funds for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, aligning with Republican-led efforts to curb DEI initiatives nationwide.
“The woke agenda has no place in taxpayer-funded programs,” Trump said during the signing ceremony.
Many GOP-led states have already banned DEI programs in universities, and this federal order is expected to further erode funding for racial and gender equity initiatives in schools.
However, with lawsuits imminent, Trump’s order is expected to face major legal challenges. The courts, which have blocked some of his previous executive orders, will likely have the final say on whether his attempt to dismantle the Department of Education stands.
In the meantime, Republican lawmakers are preparing legislation to fully dissolve the department, though it is unlikely to pass without bipartisan support.
Besides the legal showdown, the fight over federal versus state control of education is set to become a central issue in the 2026 midterm elections, shaping debates on the role of government in American schools.