Federal Department of Education Shutdown - Executive Order Signed by President Donald Trump

Federal Department of Education Shutdown - Executive Order Signed by President Donald Trump to Transfer Responsibility for Effective Education Systems to States

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, announcing his intention to shut down the "Department of Education." This move marked a political victory for conservatives who have long advocated for privatizing education.

During an East Room event, where Trump was seated with schoolchildren, he signed the order. The event was attended by several Republican governors and activists who celebrated the move. Current Education Secretary Linda McMahon was also present, and Trump explicitly stated that he hopes she will be the last person to hold the position.

Trump argued that when former President Jimmy Carter established the Department of Education in 1979, it faced widespread opposition, and he claimed that poor test results among American students proved those critics were right. He noted, "Our public school students are learning worse today than when the department was created," and added that the department's budget has "exploded by 600 percent," leading to "bureaucrats in buildings all over Washington."

However, Trump stated that "the useful functions" of the department, such as "Pell Grants and Title One funding for children with disabilities," will remain in place. But, he added, "We will quickly shut down all the activities outside of these areas."

Although the Department of Education is a federal agency, it can only be shut down through Congress. It is expected that Trump's move will face legal challenges.

There has been significant criticism of this directive. Sheria Smith, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, stated that it is "an illegal action that will leave thousands of civil servants unemployed and have a negative impact on millions of Americans." Additionally, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, has announced plans to take legal action against the order.

Trump also argued that if educational responsibility is transferred to states, the U.S. could compete with countries like "Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and China" in terms of education quality.

The federal government’s funding for primary and secondary schools accounts for only about 8% of the total funding for education in the country. However, Trump and his supporters claim that this change will provide an opportunity for significant budget cuts.