President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to reduce the Department of Education. This is expected to spur lawsuits challenging the directive and could require Congressional approval.
Trump frequently discussed plans to settle the Department of Education, which dates back to the Campaign Trail, saying in September 2024 he wanted to cut the federal influence on education in order to “stop your taxpayer abuse to indoctrinate American youth.”
“Everyone knows that's right and they have to educate their kids,” Trump said Thursday. “We haven't done well in this country's education world, not for a long time.”
As a result, the White House fact sheet for the executive order aims to “hand over education to families on behalf of bureaucrats,” directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to close the Department of Education and return educational institutions to the country, and to continue to ensure that they receive effective and uninterrupted service delivery, programs and benefits.
Trump aims to sign an executive order to abolish the Department of Education
President Donald Trump signed the executive order of March 20, 2025, and lowered the Department of Education. (Pool)
Still, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters early Thursday that the executive order would not shut down agencies completely, but would only “greatly minimize it.”
She further said the remaining institutions will continue to oversee Pell's grants and student loans, which provide financial aid to undergraduate students.
“It won't be shut down,” Levitt said. “Pell grants and student loans will still run out of the Washington, D.C. department, but the great responsibility of educating our country's students will return to the state.”
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. The Ministry of Education did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
Meanwhile, Gallup polls released in February show that Americans' satisfaction with education has declined significantly over the past decade. Polls found that as of January 2025, only 24% of Americans were satisfied with the quality of education in the US, compared to 37% in January 2017.
President Donald Trump said in February that Education Secretary Linda McMahon wanted him to work himself “from work” during a discussion to close the agency. (Noam Galai/Getty Images)
The White House opposes the decline in US education and test scores from US students.
White House critics point to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2024 (NATION'S REPORT CARD), published on January 27th. The exam test was a student in fourth and eighth graders, and found an almost stagnant mathematics score for eighth graders compared to 2022, with read scores dropping by two points in both grades.
Founded in 1979, the Department of Education seeks to coordinate federal education programs and support state and local school systems, according to its website. It also oversees student loans, financial aid programs and non-discrimination policies.
The administrative department needs Congress to approve the eradication of the institution under Article 2 of the US Constitution. Additionally, the measure would require 60 votes in the Senate, with only 53 Republicans currently.
Still, R-KY. Rep. Thomas Massey proposed on Wednesday's X-Post that the Senate would only need 51 votes using the budget adjustment process. Massie led legislative efforts to lower government agencies and introduced measures to introduce the Ministry of Education on January 31 by December 2026.
The Senate also has some support for such laws.
“I agree with President Trump that the Department of Education has failed its mission,” R-La said. Senator Bill Cassidy of Fox News Digital said in a statement. “The department can only be closed with Congressional approval, so we support the President's goals by bringing the law to achieve this as soon as possible.”
Without shutting down the agency completely, the Trump administration has moved to significantly reduce its power. On March 11, the Ministry of Education announced plans to cut staff of more than half of more than 4,000 people.
Trump still needs Congress' help on plans to abolish the education sector
The Senate confirmed that Linda McMahon will serve as Secretary of Education on March 3rd. (Get McNamee/Getty Images)
If efforts to close agents move forward, National Education Association President Becky Pringle warned that universities will become more expensive for families and students with disabilities will suffer.
“If successful, Trump's ongoing actions will hurt all students by rising class sizes, reducing vocational training programs, and keeping them expensive and out of reach for middle-class families.
Similarly, the American Federation of Teachers urged Congress to oppose an executive order to dismantle Congress in the beginning of March. The Teachers Union pointed to an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll conducted in February, finding that over 60% of Americans “strongly opposed” the agency.
Education Department launches a wide-ranging civil rights investigation: See the agency when Trump's eyes are closed
The executive order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to move forward in promoting plans to close agents. (Getty Images)
On Wednesday evening, following a report on Trump's intention to sign the order on Thursday, American Federation of Teachers President Randy Weingern announced that the union would challenge the order.
“See you in court,” Waingarten said.
Click here to get the Fox News app
Legal measures against Trump's actions are already underway. A group of attorneys generals from 21 states filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court on March 13 following agency layoffs.
The lawsuit stated that efforts to dismantle agents, including layoffs, are “an illegal violation of separation of power and an obligation to be aware that the law is faithfully enforced.”
Patrick Ward and Lawrence Edwards of Fox News contributed to this report.
