President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order to shut down the U.S. Department of Education, according to a fact sheet from the White House. The signing event is scheduled to take place at the White House on Thursday.
The order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin the process of closing the department. It also instructs her to transfer education responsibilities back to individual states while ensuring that important services and programs continue without disruption.
When Trump took office, the Department of Education had about 4,133 employees. Since then, around 600 workers have either resigned or retired. Last week, another 1,300 employees were informed they would be losing their jobs. As a result, the department now has approximately 2,183 staff members—about half of its original size.
Education Secretary McMahon has actively reduced the department’s workforce as part of Trump’s plan to eliminate it. She described the job cuts as the first step toward shutting it down completely.
The Department of Education was originally created in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter after Congress passed a law establishing it. Now, Trump’s administration is working to dismantle it.
McMahon has stated that the closure of the department aligns with Trump’s directive. In a recent interview with Fox News, she confirmed that her job is to follow through with the president’s plan. However, she acknowledged that Congress will need to be involved in the final decision.
Earlier this month, McMahon sent an email to department employees, warning them of major upcoming changes. She emphasized that the administration is focused on cutting unnecessary government spending.
McMahon was confirmed as education secretary by the Senate in a 51-45 vote, with no Democrats supporting her appointment.
The executive order will officially start the process of shutting down the Department of Education. However, since Congress originally created the department, lawmakers will likely play a key role in determining whether it can be completely dismantled.
For now, the Trump administration remains committed to shifting education decisions back to the states. More details on how the transition will happen are expected in the coming weeks.
