Trump’s order was a victory for many Republicans who discussed the division, the smallest cabinet-level institution, in the 1980s, and should have never existed, but it creates political and legal lands first.
The move follows a massive cut in the education sector’s workforce, and McMahon described it as the “first step” towards a complete shutdown.
“Obviously his direction is to close the Ministry of Education, obviously, and we know we have to work with Congress.
Here’s what you need to know about the moves towards agencies:
What does executive order mean for the department?
McMahon is permitted to cancel only programs and grants not mandated by Congress.
Mandatory programs include the Department of Civil Rights and Education for Military and Native Families.
The White House said Thursday that “significant features” within the department will remain.
“The Ministry of Education is much smaller than it is today. You know, the President’s executive order has directed Linda McMahon to significantly minimize the institutions. So when it comes to student loans and Pell grants, the Ministry of Education is still gone.
“The great responsibility of educating our country’s students will be back in the state. The important functions of the department remain,” added Leavitt.
But McMahon previously told News Nation that her agency is considering entering mandatory programs for other federal agencies, such as the Treasury Department’s student loans.
“This isn’t about turning off the lights, it’s not about going out of the department,” McMahon said. “We are consulting closely with the Legislature to see how we can implement student needs.”
If the agency is closed completely, McMahon said he wants to provide the state with the resources and research they need before closing the door.
Those resources can be difficult to provide as the Department of Education fired half of its workforce and moved from more than 4,000 employees to around 2,000 workers since the Trump administration began.
It has also already cancelled grants of hundreds of millions, affecting research and education programs.
What do you need to close your agency completely?
Congressional actions are required to shut down Congress completely.
Bills have been introduced by GOP lawmakers in such a way in both the House and Senate. But Republicans control both rooms, and while it would take 60 votes to overcome the Senate filibuster, the party doesn’t have a threshold.
“The Federal Department of Education has never educated a single student, and for a long time, ending this bureaucratic division can do more harm than good,” Sen. Mike Round (Rs.D.) said when introducing the bill in November.
One of the biggest issues Democrats had during the McMahon confirmation hearing was that they wanted the department to be removed.
“Why do you think it’s a civil rights, whether it’s a disability, a focused department, and actually dealing with children? …Why do you think it’s better to stick to the ability to deal with children with disabilities in a huge department that doesn’t have the same priorities?” Sen. Lisa Brandt Rochester (d-del.) asked after McMahon said he could see disabled individuals returning to the Department of Health and Human Services.
What do I need after this order?
Mostly lawsuits.
President of the American Federation of Teachers President Randy Weingarten’s statement to the Trump administration on Thursday was only four words about the order. “Look at you in court.”
Much of Trump’s enforcement actions have already been taken to court, and supporters said they were preparing to challenge this.
Other actions by the Ministry of Education to reduce its scale Already fighting under the legal systemincluding the decision to cancel millions of dollars with grants for teacher programs.
In a “final mission” message to staff sent shortly after she was confirmed, McMahon said future changes would “have a major impact on staff, budgets and agency operations in this department.”
The problem is: How many staff can an administrator fire before the agency can’t fulfill its mandatory responsibility?
“I think the president also has the authority to hire and fire people within the budget. So, he can’t hire a lot of people who don’t have the money, but I think he can fire people even if he has the money to pay them, I told Hill before.
Even before the official executive order was signed, supporters and Democrats abandoned the move.
“And the very premise of his plan – shutting down the Department of Education – is basically against the bipartisan law that we passed and funded, so he’ll think he’s serious about following the law for a second,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a Senator and senior member of the Senate Health, Labor and Pension Committee.
Civic action is likely the next step beyond litigation to encourage voters to contact lawmakers and defend the protection of the institution.
“McMahon may call this the ‘final mission,’ but educators and families continue to focus on our only mission. It is about teaching students and ensuring opportunities and resources for all students to learn and thrive.”
