Trump intends to eliminate the Education Department, according to WSJ
A draft executive order allegedly states that "unaccountable" bureaucrats overseeing educational programs have "failed our children." To read the full article, visit RT.com.
TroibNews 
US President Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order targeting the Department of Education, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, which cited sources familiar with the situation.
This action is part of the Trump administration's strategy to reform US government agencies in an effort to eliminate unnecessary federal spending, a plan that has been anticipated since early February when the White House first announced its intentions.
A draft of the executive order indicates that Education Secretary Linda McMahon will be instructed to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department” within the legal limits. The order could potentially be signed as early as Thursday.
“The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars – and the unaccountable bureaucrats those programs and dollars support – has failed our children, our teachers, and our families,” the draft reads, as cited by the Wall Street Journal.
The Department of Education is responsible for enforcing educational laws pertaining to privacy and civil rights, ensuring equal access to education, and managing federal grants that aid low-income families.
The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, which outlines a conservative agenda for the Trump administration, has recommended shifting the department's Office for Civil Rights to the Justice Department and moving its student loan portfolio to the Treasury Department. It has also suggested reducing funding for schools based on their low-income student population.
Trump has consistently called for the abolition of the department, labeling it a “big con job.” He previously pushed for its dissolution during his first term, but Congress did not act on that proposal.
The draft order defends the move to close the department by noting that “since its founding in 1979, the Department of Education has spent more than $1 trillion without producing virtually any improvement in student reading and mathematics scores.”
Education Secretary McMahon indicated in an email to staff that her goal is to “send education back to the states.” She stated that Trump and US voters had “tasked us with accomplishing the elimination of the bureaucratic bloat here at the Education Department – a momentous final mission – quickly and responsibly.”
The Trump administration has already begun to reduce staff by laying off probationary employees, offering buyouts to some, and limiting civil rights enforcement measures. Additionally, several grants and contracts related to research and teacher quality have been canceled.
The report also noted that the civil rights division of the department has been involved in addressing anti-Semitism on college campuses, evaluating accommodations for transgender students, and examining diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
The Department of Education is relatively small compared to other federal agencies, with approximately 4,200 employees overseeing around 100,000 public schools and 34,000 private schools across the nation.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
This action is part of the Trump administration's strategy to reform US government agencies in an effort to eliminate unnecessary federal spending, a plan that has been anticipated since early February when the White House first announced its intentions.
A draft of the executive order indicates that Education Secretary Linda McMahon will be instructed to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department” within the legal limits. The order could potentially be signed as early as Thursday.
“The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars – and the unaccountable bureaucrats those programs and dollars support – has failed our children, our teachers, and our families,” the draft reads, as cited by the Wall Street Journal.
The Department of Education is responsible for enforcing educational laws pertaining to privacy and civil rights, ensuring equal access to education, and managing federal grants that aid low-income families.
The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, which outlines a conservative agenda for the Trump administration, has recommended shifting the department's Office for Civil Rights to the Justice Department and moving its student loan portfolio to the Treasury Department. It has also suggested reducing funding for schools based on their low-income student population.
Trump has consistently called for the abolition of the department, labeling it a “big con job.” He previously pushed for its dissolution during his first term, but Congress did not act on that proposal.
The draft order defends the move to close the department by noting that “since its founding in 1979, the Department of Education has spent more than $1 trillion without producing virtually any improvement in student reading and mathematics scores.”
Education Secretary McMahon indicated in an email to staff that her goal is to “send education back to the states.” She stated that Trump and US voters had “tasked us with accomplishing the elimination of the bureaucratic bloat here at the Education Department – a momentous final mission – quickly and responsibly.”
The Trump administration has already begun to reduce staff by laying off probationary employees, offering buyouts to some, and limiting civil rights enforcement measures. Additionally, several grants and contracts related to research and teacher quality have been canceled.
The report also noted that the civil rights division of the department has been involved in addressing anti-Semitism on college campuses, evaluating accommodations for transgender students, and examining diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
The Department of Education is relatively small compared to other federal agencies, with approximately 4,200 employees overseeing around 100,000 public schools and 34,000 private schools across the nation.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
