Two US administration officials say US President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Thursday to initiate the shutdown of the Education Department. The move, first reported by USA Today, is unprecedented and could have significant implications for state and local governments, in addition to students and families nationwide.  

The Department of Education plays a crucial role in distributing financial aid and grant programs while ensuring equitable access to quality education across the US.  

The executive order instructs 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," while maintaining "uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely," according to a White House summary obtained by Axios.  

Additionally, the order mandates that any remaining Education Department funds must not be used to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or gender ideology. This directive follows Trump's previous executive order to eliminate federal DEI programs.

Between the lines

Closing a federal department would require congressional approval, likely needing at least 60 votes in the Senate. With a 53-47 majority, Republicans fall short of the threshold needed to overcome a potential Democratic filibuster.  

Any attempt to bypass congressional authority would almost certainly face legal challenges, according to Josh Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University's College of Education, who highlighted this issue in a blog post.

The Department of Education operated with a $268 billion annual budget in the 2024 fiscal year and employed over 4,000 staff members. It manages and funds numerous programs designed to support quality education for students.  

Among its responsibilities, the department provides supplemental funding to high-poverty K-12 school districts, which offer essential childcare services for many low-income and rural communities nationwide. Additionally, it gathers national data on schools and enforces federal civil rights laws to prevent discrimination.

Democratic States sue Trump admin over education department closure

Following Trump's decision to sign an executive order formalizing the department's abolition last week, around 20 Democratic-led states, along with the District of Columbia, have launched a legal battle against the Trump administration in an effort to stop the dissolution of the Department of Education.

The lawsuit, filed on March 13, argues that Trump's directive to dismantle the department violates the US Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act.

The Department of Education had already begun implementing a workforce reduction plan earlier in March, resulting in the termination of over 1,300 employees and nearly 600 voluntary resignations—effectively slashing its workforce by 50%.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed that widespread layoffs are part of a broader strategy to phase out the department entirely, stating that "the forthcoming mass redundancies in the department are the first step toward complete closure."

She defended the decision by arguing that reducing federal oversight would allow states greater control over education funding and policy.

It is worth noting that Trump has long advocated for shutting down the Department of Education, claiming it has been dominated by ideological factions. His campaign previously pledged to eliminate the agency, contending that it had been overrun by "radicals, zealots, and Marxists."

The administration argues that decentralizing education policy would enhance efficiency and direct more resources to schools.

Critics, however, warn that dismantling the department could have severe consequences, particularly for federal education funding programs that support low-income and special education students.