Education Order
On March 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE). Trump said that the department will still keep some “core necessities” and that Congress will vote on whether to officially abolish it.
The order is one of many that have defined the first weeks of Trump’s second term. The president is working to make the federal government smaller. Led by his Department of Government Efficiency, his administration has put in place major cuts and funding freezes.
The DOE as it is known today was established by Congress in 1979. It has had varied responsibilities over the years, including the management of federal student loans and aid programs. It has also provided some funding for public K–12 education. And it has collected data on schools. According to the executive order, the department’s “main functions” will be given to “states and local communities” instead.
As of September 2024, the DOE had about 4,200 employees, according to the Office of Personnel Management. On March 11, before the order, news came that 50% of DOE employees would be laid off.
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