Trump moves to dismantle US education department

President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order as early as Thursday, instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dismantle the Department of Education, according to US media reports.

The Wall Street Journal cited a draft order directing McMahon to “take all necessary steps” to close the department “to the maximum extent permitted by law.”

Trump, 78, pledged during his campaign to shift education control to state governments. However, shutting down the department, established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, would require congressional approval with 60 Senate votes.

While a full shutdown may be unlikely, Trump’s administration is expected to make deep cuts to programs and staff, weakening the department’s functions.

His move has sparked backlash from Democrats, teachers’ unions, and parents, who view it as an attack on public education.

McMahon, 76, a former WWE CEO, argued that excessive federal control harms education. “The remedy? Fund education freedom, not government,” she said at a recent Senate hearing.

The Washington Post reported that officials may attempt to transfer some department functions to other agencies, though legal challenges are expected.