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President Trump took a big step this week to shrink the federal government’s role in education. He signed an order starting the process of closing the U.S. Department of Education. This move aims to put parents and local leaders in charge of schools instead of Washington bureaucrats.
The order tells Education Secretary Linda McMahon to prepare for shutting down the department. Trump says education decisions should be made by families and states, not distant officials. He argues Washington has wasted billions on programs that don’t help kids learn. Test scores in reading and math have dropped to record lows while spending skyrocketed.
Critics claim closing the department would hurt programs for poor students and special needs children. But the Trump team says programs required by law – like student loans and disability funding – will keep running. The real target is what they call “radical agendas” pushed by Democrats. The order blocks federal money from supporting gender ideology teachings or DEI programs in schools.
Trump first promised to close the education department during his 2024 campaign. He says it’s part of draining the swamp and cutting wasteful spending. Since taking office, his administration already canceled $226 million in grants promoting racial equity programs. They’ve also cut nearly half the department’s staff through layoffs and buyouts.
Closing the department completely needs approval from Congress. Some Republicans like Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie support the plan. But passing it would require Democrat votes in the Senate, which might be tough. For now, Trump is using his executive power to weaken the agency as much as possible.
Supporters cheer this as a win for parent rights and traditional values. They argue the department has pushed liberal ideas instead of focusing on basics like reading and math. With local control, communities could ban critical race theory or transgender policies in classrooms. School choice programs might expand, letting parents use tax dollars for private or religious schools.
Opponents warn this could create chaos. They say the department ensures fair access to education across all 50 states. Without federal oversight, they fear some states might cut funding for disadvantaged kids. But Trump officials say states know their students best and don’t need Washington’s failed strategies.
This fight goes back decades. Republicans have wanted to close the education department since Ronald Reagan’s era. Trump’s order breathes new life into that goal. Whether fully successful or not, it signals a sharp turn toward conservative education priorities – putting parents in charge and pushing back against progressive policies in schools.
