President Trump took decisive action against federal education oversight with the stroke of a pen.

According to Axios, Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the Department of Education and return educational authority to states while ensuring Americans continue receiving essential services and benefits.

The unprecedented move represents a significant step toward fulfilling one of Trump's campaign promises and could dramatically reshape America's educational landscape. The order specifically prohibits any remaining department funds from supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs or what the administration terms "gender ideology."

Executive order details and implications

The White House released a summary of the executive order describing its scope and purpose. While speaking before signing the document, Trump expressed frustration with America's educational performance on the global stage.

"Hopefully [McMahon] will be our last secretary of education," Trump stated during the signing, reinforcing his commitment to eliminating the federal department entirely.

This directive follows Trump's earlier executive order targeting federal DEI initiatives and aligns with recommendations from conservative policy organizations like The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, which advocated for eliminating the department to reduce federal influence over education.

Constitutional and legislative challenges ahead

Legal experts note that completely shutting down a federal department typically requires congressional action rather than executive orders alone.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana announced on social media platform X that he plans to propose legislation "as soon as possible" to formally close the department. However, the political math presents significant obstacles to such legislation.

Despite Republicans holding a 53-47 Senate majority, they remain short of the 60 votes likely needed to overcome Democratic opposition through filibuster procedures. Any attempt to circumvent congressional authority would almost certainly face legal challenges in federal courts.

Department's extensive responsibilities and funding

The Education Department currently oversees programs affecting millions of American families with its $268 billion annual budget and workforce exceeding 4,000 employees.

Among its core functions, the department provides vital supplemental funding to high-poverty K-12 school districts and supports child care services crucial for low-income and rural communities across the nation. It also serves as the primary holder for most federal student loans and enforces civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination in educational settings.

The department collects comprehensive national data on school performance and educational outcomes that inform policy decisions at all levels of government. These responsibilities raise questions about how states would manage these functions without federal coordination.

White House defends educational reform approach

White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields defended the administration's actions by pointing to concerning trends in student achievement"

NAEP scores reveal a national crisis -- our children are falling behind. President Trump's executive order to expand educational opportunities will empower parents, states, and communities to take control and improve outcomes for all students.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who had previously acknowledged during her Senate confirmation hearing that eliminating the department would likely require congressional approval, has already begun implementing preliminary steps toward the department's dissolution.

Earlier this month, McMahon told Fox News that mass layoffs within the department represented the first phase of Trump's shutdown plan. She now faces the complex task of executing the president's directive while maintaining essential educational services.

The executive order has reportedly been in development since the presidential transition period, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the administration's intentions to shut down the agency.

Federal education oversight faces uncertain future

President Trump's executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education marks a significant attempt to reshape federal involvement in American education. The directive specifically targets ending federal DEI programs and returning educational authority to states while attempting to maintain critical services during the transition process.

The department's extensive responsibilities—including distributing financial aid, ensuring educational equity, and holding federal student loans—raise substantial questions about how these functions would continue under state control. As Republicans in Congress prepare legislation to formally abolish the department, the administration's unprecedented move faces both constitutional hurdles and practical challenges in maintaining essential educational services for millions of American families and students.