Is Trump preparing to dissolve the US Department of Education?

US Education Secretary Linda McMahon said Congressional approval is needed to close the agency, which is expected to see deep cuts to some of its workforce in the short term.

Ms. Linda McMahon, nominated by President Trump as Secretary of Education - Photo: REUTERS

According to The Washington Post , President Donald Trump is preparing to issue an executive order directing Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to take steps to close the Department of Education she leads.

The draft of the executive order acknowledges that the president does not have the authority to close the US Department of Education. It would take an act of Congress and 60 votes in the Senate to do so.

So, in the draft, the President calls on Secretary Linda McMahon to try to “take all necessary steps” to facilitate the department’s dissolution “to the extent appropriate and permitted by law.”

The draft reads: "American education is being passed on through federal programs and money and supporting irresponsible bureaucrats. This has failed our children, teachers and families."

In a letter to Democratic members of the Senate Health , Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Ms. McMahon said she “absolutely” agrees with Mr. Trump’s plan to abolish the department, according to The Washington Post .

Government officials, including Ms. McMahon, have suggested that in order to close the Department of Education, some efforts could be made to shift some of the agency's functions to other parts of the government.

That would face many legal hurdles, however, as the agency's core programs are legally vested in the Department of Education.

In the immediate future, the agency is making cuts to staff, training programs and educational grants.

Ms McMahon emailed staff, referring to their “final mission”, a reference to the department’s eventual demise.

The U.S. Department of Education has about 4,500 employees. It is currently offering bonuses to most employees to resign or retire.

President Donald Trump’s desire to close the Department of Education is not a surprise. He has previously campaigned to close the agency, saying it has failed American students.

The executive order is seen as returning educational autonomy to states and local communities, something Mr. Trump has repeatedly promised to do.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ong-trump-chuan-bi-giai-the-bo-giao-duc-my-20250306151207018.htm