Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting the Dismantling of the Education Department

On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education.

This department manages the nation’s $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio, supports funding for low-income students, and upholds civil rights throughout the country.

While Congress holds the power to eliminate the Education Department outright, the Trump administration can significantly reduce its resources.

Earlier this month, the department cut nearly half of its workforce, leaving it with 2,183 employees, a decrease from 4,133 since Trump took office in January.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned on Thursday that she anticipated that some vital functions of the Education Department, such as federal student loans, would still be managed by the downsized agency.

Consumer advocates highlighted the extensive damage this order could cause.

“Today’s decision does not align with the interests of students or families,” stated Mitria Spotser, vice president and federal policy director at the Center for Responsible Lending.

“It undermines public education, neglects civil rights enforcement, and favors corporate interests over the fundamental right to a quality education,” Spotser added.

The current iteration of the U.S. Department of Education was established by former President Jimmy Carter in 1979. Over the years, the department has confronted other significant threats, including former President Ronald Reagan’s call for its elimination and Trump’s initial efforts to merge it with the Labor Department during his first term.