President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the Department of Education to begin the process of dismantling its operations, fulfilling a key objective outlined in his administration's Project 2025 policy framework. The move marks one of the most significant federal overhauls yet attempted in Trump's second term and signals a broader effort to return control of education policy to state governments.
The executive order, which acknowledges that only Congress has the authority to formally abolish the department, tasks Education Secretary Linda McMahon with scaling down the agency's footprint to the extent permissible. McMahon, confirmed earlier this month in a 51-45 Senate vote, has been charged with spearheading the downsizing effort, which includes sweeping staff layoffs and program reductions.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that "critical functions" such as Pell Grants and student loans would remain intact. However, concerns over the status of federal education programs, especially those tied to financial aid, have intensified among students, parents, and advocacy groups.
The announcement follows significant cuts at the Department of Education. Since February, thousands of department staffers have been dismissed. In early March, the department confirmed a 50% workforce reduction, which the Trump administration described as part of its broader goal to "[restore] the greatness of the United States education system." Politico previously reported that employees were offered up to $25,000 in cash incentives to voluntarily resign ahead of the cuts.
Speaking at the White House, Trump reiterated his long-standing criticism of the federal education agency. "We want to move education back to the states," he said, adding that the department has failed in improving student outcomes.
Data from the National Center for Education Progress underscores the administration's argument. Eighth grade math scores dropped from 68% at basic proficiency levels in 2004 to 61% in 2024. Reading scores also declined, falling from 74% to 67% over the same period.
Critics of the move, however, voiced concerns that dismantling the department could jeopardize programs critical to student access and equity. Outside the Department of Education's headquarters, student groups staged protests, citing fears over the fate of financial aid and civil rights enforcement.
"If the American people really disliked the Department of Education, Trump wouldn't need to game the system," one protester said during a sit-in.
Alain Sanders, a professor at St. Peter's University, noted the growing unease among prospective college students. "Surely students who are considering college are feeling a little bit lost right now as to what this is all going to mean," Sanders said.
The Heritage Foundation's Lindsey Burke defended the administration's move, calling the department's track record poor. "There's simply been no improvement," Burke said, referring to decades of stagnant standardized test scores.
The executive order advances a core promise Trump made during his campaign, echoed in interviews and policy documents. In a December interview with Time magazine, Trump described the department as a "failed" institution, stating he supported a "virtual closure" of the agency, save for overseeing basic English and mathematics instruction.
McMahon, co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment and an advocate for school choice policies, has described dismantling the department as her "final mission." She reiterated her commitment to shifting authority over education back to individual states following her confirmation.
