Trump Signs Order to Minimize Education Department Amid Backlash

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 20, 2025, aimed at minimizing the U.S. Department of Education, a move that fulfills a long-standing conservative goal to dismantle the agency. The order was signed in a ceremony attended by Republican governors, state education officials, and school children.

Despite the significant implications of this directive, experts noted that completely dissolving the agency would require congressional action, which is unlikely given the current political landscape. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the order seeks to reduce the agency’s scope while maintaining certain critical functions, such as overseeing student loans.

The executive order instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the Department’s closure, returning educational authority to individual states. “We want to greatly minimize the agency,” Leavitt stated. “Critical functions will remain under its umbrella, but we do not need to sustain a department that has not fulfilled its primary mission of effectively educating our students.”

The initiative reflects growing discontent over federal involvement in education, which has intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic and is fueled by a parents’ rights movement challenging school policies regarding diversity and inclusion. Public school funding predominantly comes from state and local sources, with the Education Department’s federal funding accounting for about 14 percent of school budgets.

Opponents of the order warn that reducing the Education Department could have dire consequences for diverse student populations. The National Parents Union condemned the decision, stating, “This isn’t fixing education; it’s making sure millions of children never get a fair shot.”

Current Education Department employees have raised concerns about their job security, with reports indicating that nearly half have been notified of potential layoffs. An anonymous employee spoke of a “slap in the face,” suggesting that the administration’s lack of understanding of the agency’s role endangers services essential for millions of students.

The Trump administration’s approach is believed to be part of a broader strategy to push for financial authority over education away from the federal level. Earlier initiatives aimed at delegating responsibilities such as student loan oversight to entities like the Small Business Administration have faced skepticism due to the complexity of managing a vast student debt portfolio currently totaling around $1.8 trillion.

As Trump continues to advocate for dismantling the Department of Education, legal challenges to this and other executive actions are expected. The National Education Association criticized the order, predicting larger class sizes, reduced college quality, and fewer protections for vulnerable students.

“If successful, Trump’s continued actions will hurt all students,” stated NEA President Becky Pringle.