WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald J. Trump signed a sweeping executive order Friday directing the Department of Education to begin the process of closing its doors and transferring authority over education to state and local governments.
Key Points
- President Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education
- Federal education programs like Pell Grants and Title I will continue under different agencies
- The move shifts authority over education policy and administration back to states and localities
The executive action orders the Secretary of Education to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education,” citing decades of stagnant or declining student performance despite trillions of dollars in federal spending since the department’s establishment in 1979.
The move comes amid growing criticism of the federal government’s role in education. The order highlights a 245% increase in per-pupil spending since the 1970s, while national test scores in math and reading have fallen, particularly among low-performing students.
Under the order, key federal programs such as Title I funding for low-income schools and Pell Grants for college students will continue, but be managed by other federal agencies. The federal student loan program—currently managed by the Department of Education and carrying a $1.6 trillion debt portfolio—will be transferred to the Small Business Administration.
The executive order also prohibits any remaining Department of Education funding from being used to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or gender ideology.
“By offering these discounts on the trains, we will get vehicles off the road and provide residents another option,” said President Trump, referencing similar federal streamlining measures.
The order was met with support from Republican governors and lawmakers. “Education is a state and local responsibility,” said Gov. Mike Braun. “I support President Trump’s bold action to return education to where it belongs and to put parents in the driver’s seat of their children’s education.”
The Department of Education currently does not directly educate students, and the White House argues that eliminating federal oversight will give more control to parents, local school boards, and state governments.
The executive action directs a transition plan to maintain the “effective and uninterrupted delivery” of education services during the closure process.