Trump signs order to dismantle Education Department

• The Department of Education disperses critical financial aid and grant programs and is responsible for ensuring equity in education access and quality across the U.S.

Driving the news: 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" while ensuring "uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely," according to a White House summary seen by Axios.

• The order "directs that programs or activities receiving any remaining Department of Education funds will not advance DEI or gender ideology," per the summary.
• Trump said Thursday ahead of signing the executive order that the U.S. is "not doing well with the world of education in this country, and we haven't for a long time."
• "Hopefully [McMahon] will be our last secretary of education," he said.
  

The directive follows Trump's executive order on ending federal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

• McMahon told Fox News earlier this month that mass layoffs in the Education Department marked the first step in Trump's plans for a total shutdown of the agency.
• The executive order has been in the works since the days of the Trump transition, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the shutdown plans.

What they're saying: "NAEP scores reveal a national crisis — our children are falling behind," said Harrison Fields, White House principal deputy press secretary, in an emailed statement on Wednesday night that blamed Democrats' policies for the situation.

• "President Trump's executive order to expand educational opportunities will empower parents, states, and communities to take control and improve outcomes for all students."

Context: Trump's order is a step toward fulfilling one of his campaign promises: removing federal oversight of states' public education systems.

• The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 recommended eliminating the department to achieve that goal.
• McMahon echoed Trump's pledge to abolish the department she was nominated to lead during her Senate confirmation hearing, but acknowledged it would likely require Congressional approval.

Between the lines: Shuttering a federal department would require congressional action, likely including 60 votes in the Senate.

• Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said in a Thursday post on X that he'd propose legislation "as soon as possible" to accomplish shutting down the department.
• Republicans have a 53-47 Senate majority, well short of the threshold needed to quash a potential Democrat-led filibuster of such a measure.
• Attempting to circumvent congressional authority would almost certainly draw legal challenges, notes Josh Cowen, professor of education policy at Michigan State University's College of Education in a blog post.

Zoom in: The Department of Education had a $268 billion annual budget in the 2024 fiscal year and more than 4,000 staff. It funds and oversees a plethora of programs aimed at ensuring students get a quality education.

• This includes providing supplemental funding to high-poverty K-12 school districts that provide vital child care services for many low-income and rural communities across the country.
• The department collects national data on schools and enforces federal civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination.
• It's also the loan holder for most federal student loans.

Go deeper: What to know about Trump's plan to eliminate the Department of Education

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a video of the signing and added statements.

Rebecca Falconer contributed reporting.