Donald Trump continued his mission to dismantle the Department of Education surrounded by schoolchildren at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 20th. 

The former president signed an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary actions to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.” This move aims to transfer academic oversight back to state and local authorities and reduce the federal government’s role in education policy. Trump claimed the department is “doing us no good,” adding, “We’re going to eliminate it, and everyone knows it’s the right thing to do.”

Trump’s administration has already drastically reduced the department’s workforce. 

On March 11, 2025, the Department of Education announced nearly half of its employees would lose their jobs. Those affected will be placed on administrative leave starting March 21st. However, abolishing the department altogether isn’t as simple as signing an executive order. Congress established the Department of Education in 1979, and only Congress can fully dismantle it. Critics have slammed Trump’s actions, arguing the cuts will worsen the already existing inequalities in America’s education system. Legal challenges are anticipated, with multiple advocacy groups working on lawsuits to halt the order.