The Trump administration has initiated the process of drafting an executive order aimed at eliminating the Department of Education, in line with President Donald Trump's campaign promises. The order, which would be executed in two phases, involves directing the Education Secretary to devise a plan to reduce the department through executive actions. Additionally, President Trump intends to urge Congress to pass legislation to dissolve the department, recognizing that congressional involvement is necessary for its closure.
Efforts to abolish or merge the Department of Education with another federal agency have been proposed in the past but have not garnered sufficient support from Congress. During Trump's first term, a proposal to merge the Education and Labor Departments into a single federal agency did not progress, despite Republican control of both the Senate and House of Representatives.
This year, the Education Department is facing scrutiny from the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk. As part of a broader initiative to remove federal employees associated with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts, numerous Education Department employees were placed on paid administrative leave.
President Trump has consistently criticized the Department of Education as a symbol of federal overreach and has linked it to cultural issues. While the potential elimination of the department is being considered, it is likely that certain programs and funding could be retained and transferred to other agencies, as they existed before the department was established in 1979.
Historically, when presidents proposed budget cuts to the Department of Education, Congress often opposed the reductions and allocated more funding than requested. An analysis from the Brookings Institution revealed that Congress increased funding for the department beyond the president's proposals approximately 71% of the time, even when the Trump administration sought budget cuts during its first term.
