President Trump Moves to Abolish Department of Education: What It Means for States

n March 20, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to initiate the process of dismantling the federal Department of Education.

This action fulfilled a campaign pledge Trump had consistently emphasized during his presidential bid.

The administration’s stated objective is to “return education to the States, where it belongs,” arguing for decentralized control over education policy.

Although efforts to reduce the 45-year-old department’s budget and workforce had already begun prior to the order, the complete dissolution of the agency would necessitate congressional authorization.

The move sets the stage for potential legislative battles, as Congress holds the authority to formally abolish federal departments.

The Case Against the Department of Education

Trump opened his address with a stark critique of the federal education system.

“After 45 years, the United States spends more money on education, by far, than any other country—and more per pupil than anyone else—but we rank near the bottom in terms of success,” he declared.

He pointed to troubling statistics:

70% of eighth graders aren’t proficient in reading or math, 40% of fourth graders lack basic reading skills, and in cities like Baltimore, 40% of high schools have zero students capable of basic mathematics.

“These are breathtaking failures,” he said, noting that student performance has declined since the department’s inception in 1980, despite a 600% explosion in its discretionary budget.

For Trump, this is evidence of a broken system. He painted a picture of inefficiency—bureaucrats filling sprawling D.C. office buildings while students flounder.

“As a former real estate person, I ride through the streets of Washington and see ‘Department of Education’ everywhere. How do you fill those buildings? It’s crazy what’s happened,” he remarked.

His solution? Cut the fat. He boasted that his administration has already halved the department’s workforce—down from over 4,000 to roughly 2,000 employees—offering “very generous” buyouts to ease the transition.

The Plan: Back to the States

The core of Trump’s vision is simple: return education to the states.

“We want to shut it down as quickly as possible,” he said. “It’s doing us no good. We want to return our students to the states, where some of the governors here are so happy about this.”

He promised that critical programs like Pell Grants, Title I funding for low-income schools, and resources for students with disabilities would be preserved and redistributed to other agencies.

“They’re going to be fully preserved,” he assured, nodding to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who stood by his side.

Trump sees this as a return to common sense. He cited countries like Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and even China—nations that consistently outperform the U.S. in education—as models of what states could achieve.

“I believe states like Texas, Florida, Iowa—they’ll do every bit as well as those top countries,” he predicted.

He acknowledged potential “laggards” but vowed to work with them, suggesting a localized approach where counties or regions within states could tailor education to their needs.

“In New York, you’ll have Manhattan, Suffolk County, Nassau County, Westchester—break it down into sections.

They’re going to do really well.”

Teachers and Parents: A Personal Promise

Amid the policy talk, Trump struck a personal chord. “Teachers, to me, are among the most important people in this country,” he said. “We’re going to take care of our teachers—union or not, doesn’t matter.”

He argued that states would treat educators better than the federal government ever has, potentially with merit-based systems to reward the best. He also envisioned a system where parents and teachers collaborate closely, cutting costs while boosting quality.

“The cost will be half, and the education will be many, many times better,” he claimed.

What’s Next—and Why It’s Divisive

Trump’s executive order can shrink its operations—staff cuts and a $600 million grant reduction since January prove that—but only Congress can kill it entirely. Opposition is fierce.

Teachers’ unions, like the National Education Association, decry it as an attack on public education. Parents worry about losing safeguards for students with disabilities or Pell Grants for college. A Reuters/Ipsos poll last month found 65% of Americans oppose the move.

Still, Trump framed it as a populist triumph.

“People have wanted to do this for decades, and no president ever got around to it—but I’m getting around to it,” he said, before signing the executive order to cheers.

For supporters, it’s a liberation from federal “eurocrats” (a term he used to jab at D.C. elites). For critics, it’s a reckless gamble with kids’ futures.

The Bottom Line