On March 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order with the goal of getting rid of the federal Department of Education. 

This move fulfills a promise he made to his conservative supporters. The signing ceremony took place in the East Room of the White House and included students and teachers.

The order aims to give more control over education to state and local governments, which has raised concerns among those who support a strong federal role in education. 

Trump called this order the first step to “eliminate” the department, although completely closing it would need approval from Congress, which he currently does not have.

“We’re going to give education back to the states where it belongs,” Trump said, standing in front of a display of state flags. 

Young students at the event participated by sitting at desks and signing their own pretend executive orders.

This signing comes after the Department of Education announced plans to cut nearly half of its staff as part of Trump’s goal to reduce what he sees as an oversized federal government.

Education has always been a hot topic in U.S. politics. Conservatives tend to prefer local control of schools and support school-choice options that help private and religious schools. 

In contrast, many progressives argue for more funding for public schools and programs that promote diversity.

Trump’s actions are part of a larger effort to combat what he and other conservatives see as liberal ideas being pushed in schools, from universities down to elementary education. 

He has also aimed to change higher education by cutting funding and removing policies related to diversity and inclusion. 

For instance, Columbia University recently had a deadline to tighten rules on campus protests if it wanted to restore $400 million in federal funds.

The administration believes that the Education Department is wasting money, pointing to poor student test scores, low literacy rates, and weak math skills as signs that its spending hasn’t been effective.

The pandemic brought more attention to debates over school curriculums, with many parents expressing anger at school board meetings. 

Trump and other Republicans have used this frustration to gain support.

At the signing event, Trump was joined by Republican governors, such as Greg Abbott from Texas and Ron DeSantis from Florida. 

Some Democrats have acknowledged that Trump could significantly weaken the Department of Education without needing Congress to get involved. 

The department oversees about 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools, but over 85% of public school funding comes from state and local governments. 

It also manages federal support for low-income schools and programs for students with special needs, as well as school infrastructure.

Right now, the order focuses on limiting the department’s role to just a few essential functions, like handling student loans and providing Pell Grants for low-income students. 

“We’re going to shut it down as quickly as possible; it’s not helping us,” Trump stated.

Although Republicans control both houses of Congress, they will need some Democratic support to completely eliminate the department. 

Trump acknowledged that he will face challenges in getting that support. 

Public opinion seems to be against closing the Education Department. A recent poll by Reuters/Ipsos found that 65% of Americans are opposed to shutting it down, while only 30% are in favor. 

Federal education aid tends to benefit Republican-leaning states more, making up 15% of K-12 funding in Trump-supporting states compared to 11% in states that voted for his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris.