President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Thursday aimed at shutting down the U.S. Department of Education, fulfilling a core campaign promise, according to a White House summary obtained by Reuters. The move has already sparked legal challenges, with a coalition of Democratic state attorneys general filing a lawsuit to block the department’s dissolution and prevent the layoffs of nearly half its workforce, which were announced last week.
The NAACP strongly condemned the anticipated order, calling it unconstitutional. “This is a devastating blow to millions of American children, especially those in underserved and rural communities whose families supported Trump,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson. The administration, led by Trump and his adviser Elon Musk, has attempted to eliminate multiple federal agencies, but dissolving a cabinet-level department would be an unprecedented move.
Trump cannot fully eliminate the Education Department without congressional approval, a process likely to face significant hurdles. While Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, eliminating a federal agency would require 60 votes, meaning at least seven Democrats would need to join the effort—an outcome Senate Democrats have shown no interest in supporting. “Trump and Musk are tearing down the Department of Education and slashing jobs,” said Democratic Senator Patty Murray, vowing to resist what she described as their “reckless attack on public education.”
The order instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take steps to close the department while shifting education oversight back to individual states. It also mandates that any remaining federal education funds must not support programs promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, or gender-related policies. Trump has long criticized the department, calling it “a complete scam” and unsuccessfully pushing for its elimination during his first term.
Although Trump has advocated for an immediate shutdown of the agency, he has acknowledged that congressional approval and negotiations with teachers' unions will be necessary. "Federal control of education has failed students, parents, and teachers," the White House summary states, citing that since the department’s creation in 1979, it has spent over $3 trillion without significant improvements in student performance on standardized tests.
Critics argue that dismantling the agency could disrupt vital funding for K-12 schools and tuition assistance for college students. The Department of Education manages grants for low-income school districts, supports special education programs, and oversees $1.6 trillion in student loans. While McMahon has defended Trump’s efforts to abolish the department, she has assured that key federal funding for struggling schools and students will continue. However, the administration’s push to decentralize education policy remains one of its most controversial initiatives.