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The White House is preparing an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a long-standing Republican goal, according to two sources familiar with the plans. While President Donald Trump cannot unilaterally abolish a federal agency without congressional approval, the move signals his administration’s commitment to drastically reshaping the country’s education system.
Trump has repeatedly called for eliminating the department, arguing that education policy should be controlled by individual states. In a September 2023 social media video, he promised, “One other thing I’ll be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and sending all education and education work and needs back to the states.”
The Republican Party formally adopted Trump’s proposal into its platform last summer, aligning with conservative think tanks like Project 2025 that advocate for shrinking federal government influence in education.
The Education Department, established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, currently serves over 50 million K-12 students and provides financial aid to more than 12 million college students. Critics warn that abolishing it would devastate public education, particularly for vulnerable populations.
“If it became a reality, Trump’s power grab would steal resources for our most vulnerable students, explode class sizes, cut job training programs, make higher education more expensive and out of reach for middle-class families, take away special education services for students with disabilities, and gut student civil rights protections,” National Education Association President Becky Pringle said Tuesday.
For decades, Republicans have attempted to eliminate the department, with President Ronald Reagan among its early opponents. Recent efforts include legislation introduced by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and David Rouzer (R-N.C.) to dissolve the agency. While the GOP controls both the House and Senate, such measures would face significant hurdles in the Senate, where 60 votes are required to overcome a filibuster.
Meanwhile, Trump has continued advancing conservative education policies. Last week, he signed an executive order expanding school choice, directing the Education Department to provide guidance on how states can use federal funds for private and charter school programs. “Nothing is more important than giving parents the power to choose the best education for their children,” Trump said.
Calls to dismantle the department have gained traction among Republicans, particularly during the 2024 primaries. Former GOP candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley both campaigned on eliminating or overhauling the agency. In a July campaign email, Trump outlined further education priorities, including defunding schools that teach “critical race theory,” investigating institutions accused of discriminating against Asian Americans, and creating a certification process for teachers who “embrace patriotic values.”
Despite Trump’s push, abolishing the Education Department remains an uphill battle. With strong Democratic opposition and procedural roadblocks in Congress, the department’s future will likely be a major flashpoint in upcoming political debates.
