Impact of order closing education agency unclear
By: Joey Garrison
and Zachary Schermele
USA Today
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump was set to sign an executive order Thursday [03/20/2025] aimed at dismantling the Department of Education, setting up the most contentious and far-reaching battle in his fight to push the bounds of presidential authority.
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Yet the immediate impact of the directive remained unclear.
..... Though the White House continues to sue words like "close," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday [03/20/2025] that the department would continue operating in some form but the "much smaller than it is today. [03/20/2025]
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Fully dissolving the department would require action from Congress, which cerated the department in 1979. and key programs for schools cannot be removed form the department unless Congress authorizes it.
..... Still, Trump is directing his education secretary, Linda McMahon, to take "all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the States," according to a White House summary of the order.
..... It also simultaneously calls for the "uninterrupted delivery of services, programs and benefits on which Americans rely."
..... Leavitt said the Education Department has failed to deliver despite spending $3 trillion since it was cerated.
..... "What has been the return on that investment for the American taxpayer? Levels that are less than ideal, less than proficient," she said.
..... The ultimate goal, she said, is to cut "wasteful spending." She did not say what the White House determined to be wasteful.
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Public schools rely on the Education Department to distribute federal education dollars. A major stream comes form Title I, which boost funding to schools serving high-propriety populations. Leavitt said that would continue, as would funding for students with disabilities and Pell Grants and loans that help pay for college.
..... Republicans have long accused the federal government of holding too much power over local and state education policy. Since returning to office, Trump has discussed giving state full authority to oversee schools.
..... To stress this concept, he invited several Republican governors and education chiefs to the signing, including Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, Greg Abbott of Texas and Mike DeWine of Ohio.
..... However, local school districts and states already control their curricula.
..... The federal government provides limited oversight for schools that receive federal funding to ensure students are being kept safe and treated equally.
..... Congressional Democrats blasted Trump for making what they called a blatantly illegal move. Washington Senator Patty Murry, a top funding appropriator, said in a statement that Trump was taking a "wrecking ball" to the agency despite knowing "perfectly well he can't abolish the Department of Education without Congress."
..... Advocates for student loan borrowers issued similar critiques.
..... Randi Welingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, had a simple retort: "See you ion court."