Trump Administration Nearing Completion of Plans to Close Education Department
An executive order, anticipated to be signed by President Donald Trump this month, is expected to outline a two-pronged approach for shutting down the agency.
TroibNews 
The Trump administration is in the final stages of preparing an executive order aimed at dismantling the Education Department, fulfilling a longstanding campaign promise to target the agency favored by conservatives.
The anticipated order, which President Donald Trump is set to sign later this month according to a White House official, is expected to outline a two-part strategy for closing the department, as revealed by two individuals familiar with the plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
This order would instruct the department to develop a plan for gradually reducing its functions through its existing administrative powers. Additionally, it would likely require the agency to compile an inventory of the various laws necessary to transfer the department’s responsibilities to other federal agencies, ultimately leading to the department’s closure. This aspect acknowledges that many conservatives' objectives for reform depend on approval from Congress. Implementing such an order would be a complicated undertaking, especially since some conservatives admit they currently lack sufficient legislative support to shut down the department and reallocate its core functions.
While Trump has openly advocated for the closure of the Education Department, it has also caught the attention of Elon Musk’s government efficiency team, which recently scrutinized the U.S. Agency for International Development.
A source familiar with the situation indicated that representatives from the so-called Department of Government Efficiency were present at the Education Department headquarters on Monday, seeking access to agency records.
A spokesperson for the Department of Government Efficiency did not respond to a request for comment. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the administration's discussions regarding the executive order.
Although the general direction of Trump's executive order is becoming clearer, the timing presents some challenges.
The Senate nomination hearing for Trump's candidate to lead the department, billionaire pro wrestling mogul Linda McMahon, has yet to be scheduled as her team awaits the clearance of her financial disclosures and other necessary paperwork from the Office of Government Ethics.
Once McMahon is eventually in front of the Senate for confirmation, she can expect to face tough questions regarding her views on the existence of the agency she is poised to lead.
There has been some discussion among staff at the department that the executive order could place McMahon in a challenging position, making it difficult for her to address questions related to the president's agenda and her potential role in executing a plan to eliminate the department, according to an individual who has communicated with Education Department officials.
“Common sense tells me they won’t do that until the secretary is confirmed,” noted another source with knowledge of the discussions, who also spoke anonymously to discuss sensitive matters.
“That’s partly politics, but there will be deadlines in that executive order,” this individual continued. “The secretary is going to need every day to meet those deadlines. To start the clock on her before she can start working on it, common sense tells me they wouldn’t do that to her.”
Rebecca Carballo contributed to this report.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
The anticipated order, which President Donald Trump is set to sign later this month according to a White House official, is expected to outline a two-part strategy for closing the department, as revealed by two individuals familiar with the plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
This order would instruct the department to develop a plan for gradually reducing its functions through its existing administrative powers. Additionally, it would likely require the agency to compile an inventory of the various laws necessary to transfer the department’s responsibilities to other federal agencies, ultimately leading to the department’s closure. This aspect acknowledges that many conservatives' objectives for reform depend on approval from Congress. Implementing such an order would be a complicated undertaking, especially since some conservatives admit they currently lack sufficient legislative support to shut down the department and reallocate its core functions.
While Trump has openly advocated for the closure of the Education Department, it has also caught the attention of Elon Musk’s government efficiency team, which recently scrutinized the U.S. Agency for International Development.
A source familiar with the situation indicated that representatives from the so-called Department of Government Efficiency were present at the Education Department headquarters on Monday, seeking access to agency records.
A spokesperson for the Department of Government Efficiency did not respond to a request for comment. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the administration's discussions regarding the executive order.
Although the general direction of Trump's executive order is becoming clearer, the timing presents some challenges.
The Senate nomination hearing for Trump's candidate to lead the department, billionaire pro wrestling mogul Linda McMahon, has yet to be scheduled as her team awaits the clearance of her financial disclosures and other necessary paperwork from the Office of Government Ethics.
Once McMahon is eventually in front of the Senate for confirmation, she can expect to face tough questions regarding her views on the existence of the agency she is poised to lead.
There has been some discussion among staff at the department that the executive order could place McMahon in a challenging position, making it difficult for her to address questions related to the president's agenda and her potential role in executing a plan to eliminate the department, according to an individual who has communicated with Education Department officials.
“Common sense tells me they won’t do that until the secretary is confirmed,” noted another source with knowledge of the discussions, who also spoke anonymously to discuss sensitive matters.
“That’s partly politics, but there will be deadlines in that executive order,” this individual continued. “The secretary is going to need every day to meet those deadlines. To start the clock on her before she can start working on it, common sense tells me they wouldn’t do that to her.”
Rebecca Carballo contributed to this report.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
