President Trump’s Education Secretary Linda McMahon is leading a bold plan to shut down the federal Department of Education. This move aims to give power back to parents and local leaders. McMahon, a business leader and longtime Trump ally, says the department has wasted taxpayer money while student scores dropped.
McMahon was confirmed by the Senate in a party-line vote. She promised to “send education back to the states” and end Washington’s control. The Trump administration argues the department is bloated and pushes liberal ideas like critical race theory instead of teaching basics like math and reading.
Trump signed an executive order directing McMahon to begin closing the department. Key programs like Pell Grants and special education funding will move to other agencies. McMahon says this will cut red tape and let teachers focus on real learning. Critics claim it will hurt students, but Trump says it stops wasteful spending on political agendas.
The Education Department has spent over $1 trillion since 1980 with little improvement. Test scores are low, and many students graduate unprepared. McMahon calls this a failure of federal oversight. She wants states and parents to decide what’s best, not bureaucrats in Washington.
School choice is a big part of the plan. Parents could use taxpayer funds to pick schools that match their values. McMahon says this freedom will help kids escape failing schools. Democrats argue it will drain money from public schools, but conservatives say competition raises quality.
The department has already fired half its staff and closed offices. Programs linked to diversity and gender ideology were cut first. McMahon says these changes honor Trump’s promise to shrink government. Teachers unions oppose the moves, claiming they harm civil rights protections.
Closing the department fully needs Congress to act. Republicans hope to pass a law, but Democrats may block it. McMahon is working with states to transfer programs smoothly. She vows no disruption to student loans or aid, saying services will continue through other agencies.
This historic shift puts American education back in local hands. Conservatives cheer the end of federal overreach, while liberals warn of chaos. Trump and McMahon say it’s time for parents, not Washington, to shape children’s futures. The fight over education’s future is just beginning.