U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order to shut down the Department of Education on Thursday, March 20, local time. This move aligns with his key election campaign promise.
According to reports from Reuters and AFP, the White House has confirmed that Trump will sign the long-anticipated order, fulfilling a major pledge from his election campaign. Over the past months, efforts have been made to reduce the department’s workforce and funding.
However, a group of Democratic state attorneys general has already challenged the decision. They have filed a lawsuit to stop the dissolution of the department and the planned layoffs of nearly half of its employees, which were announced last week.
The decision to shut down the Department of Education has been a longstanding goal for many American conservatives. Trump had previously pledged to decentralize education and transfer its authority to state governments, a priority for many Republicans for decades.
Traditionally, the federal government plays a limited role in U.S. education, as only 13% of school funding comes from federal sources, with the rest provided by state and local governments. However, federal funding is crucial for low-income schools and students with special needs. The federal government also plays a vital role in enforcing students’ civil rights protections.
The Department of Education, established in 1979, cannot be officially dismantled without congressional approval. Currently, Republicans do not have enough votes in Congress to pass such a measure. However, under Trump’s administration, the department is expected to see further budget cuts and reductions in staff, which could significantly weaken its operations.