WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — President Donald Trump issued an executive order Thursday ordering the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, to return educational authority to the states. The action is designed to achieve a long-held conservative aim of less federal control over education.
The executive order directs 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,” subject to ensuring the ongoing provision of fundamental services and benefits.
But the department cannot be abolished without congressional action, having been created by an act of Congress in 1979. This is a major legislative obstacle, particularly under the present political climate.
The Department of Education administers significant federal funding for schools and oversees a $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. Its mandate involves enforcing civil rights laws, providing assistance to low-income schools with Title I funding, and awarding Pell Grants to college students.
Critics contend that abolishing the department would be detrimental to at-risk student groups by interfering with these vital services. The National Parents Union said, “This isn’t fixing education. It’s making sure millions of children never get a fair shot. And we’re not about to let that happen without a fight.
Its proponents hope that it will cut bureaucracy and give states more authority over education policy, reflecting conservative sentiments regarding limited federal government. They claim that local governments are better equipped to respond to the specific needs of their people.
The executive order is one of the administration’s fiercest attempts to remake federal agencies. Yet, the road to deconstructing the Department of Education completely is murky, with predicted legal challenges and the need for legislative intervention causing major roadblocks.
