President Trump prepares an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dismantle the Department of Education

President Donald Trump is poised to take a historic and controversial step by instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education through an executive order, according to sources familiar with the administration’s plans. This drastic move, which aligns with his long-standing campaign promise, would return education oversight to individual states. However, the plan faces immense legal and political hurdles, as Congress must approve any attempt to dissolve the department.

A draft of the executive order, leaked to sources, explicitly calls for McMahon to initiate the department’s closure by taking all legally permissible actions. The document states, “The federal bureaucratic hold on education must end. The Department of Education’s main functions can, and should, be returned to the States.”

During her confirmation hearing, McMahon acknowledged that only Congress could finalise the agency’s dissolution. “We’d like to do this right,” she said, emphasising the necessity of legislative action. Despite these constraints, Trump’s administration remains determined to move forward with the plan.

This development marks the culmination of months of strategic manoeuvring by the White House to strip federal oversight from education. The draft order asserts that federal control has failed students, teachers, and families, and calls for a shift towards state-based governance.

However, the proposal has triggered intense backlash from education experts and civil rights advocates. Critics argue that dismantling the department would jeopardise crucial funding streams, including Title I grants for low-income students and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Augustus Mays, vice president at The Education Trust, warned that shutting down the department could “cripple the ability to provide support that vulnerable students need to succeed.”

Beyond funding concerns, the executive order reportedly mandates the termination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in federally funded programs. The draft outlines that all recipients of federal education funds must immediately halt any DEI efforts, citing concerns about race- and sex-based discrimination. This move follows the launch of EndDEI.Ed.Gov, a new platform that encourages parents and students to report alleged discriminatory policies.

Education advocates fear that such measures could dismantle protections for marginalised students, particularly under Title IX, Title VI, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Department of Education plays a crucial role in enforcing these anti-discrimination laws, ensuring that schools provide equitable access to education for all students.

Adding to the uncertainty, the executive order questions the efficiency of federal education spending. It cites stagnant results in standardised assessments such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress, often referred to as “the nation’s report card.” The Trump administration argues that states, not the federal government, should determine how education funds are distributed and utilised.

While the draft executive order signals a clear intent, its implementation remains highly uncertain. The U.S. Constitution does not grant the president unilateral power to dissolve federal agencies. Even if McMahon follows through with the administration’s directive, the plan would face formidable opposition in Congress, where at least 60 Senate votes are required to approve such legislation.

For now, the future of federal education oversight hangs in the balance. If Trump’s administration succeeds in pushing this agenda forward, the impact on American students, schools, and educators could be profound—leaving billions of dollars in federal education funding and critical programs in jeopardy.