President Trump signed an executive order Thursday seeking to facilitate his longstanding goal of eliminating the Department of Education.
While the order recognizes it would take an act of Congress to completely shutter the department, Trump directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to do all she can to achieve its end.
“Today, we take a very historic action that was 45 years in the making,” he said at a signing ceremony at the East Room of the White House that included multiple school-age children sitting at classroom desks. “I will sign an executive order to begin eliminating the federal Department of Education.”
“The department’s useful functions […] will be preserved, fully preserved,” Trump added, referring to Pell Grants, Title I funding and programs for students with disabilities. “They’re going to be preserved in full and redistributed to various other agencies and departments.”
“But beyond these core necessities, my administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department. We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible,” he added at the ceremony, which was attended by Republican lawmakers and governors including Rep. Virginia Foxx (N.C.), Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The White House said earlier Thursday the Education Department will still keep its critical functions that are mandated by Congress.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Now he needs to eliminate Government Unions. They are a big reason government is so bloated, overpaid, and Marxist. Time to shut this down. Unions do not work in government.
Excellent! Thank you President Trump!
Jimmy Carter started the Federal Board of Education in 1979 and the Public School System has been on a down spiral ever since. It is a disgrace today and is actually damaging children today!
It is apparent that news organizations are completely overlooking the basics of the US Constitution concerning the US Department of Education. It was not too long ago that the Supreme Court ruled there was no federal power or authority granted by the US Constitution to regulate abortion. Therefore, the Supreme Court ruled according to the 10th Amendment, giving states that power. If the federal government wants to regulate abortion, it must amend the US Constitution to do so. This example with abortion is about the same when it comes to eliminating the US Department of Education. Nowhere in the Constitution does it grant power or authority to the US Legislative or Executive Branches to regulate education at the national level. The Department of Education Organization Act of 1979, passed by Congress and signed by President Carter, was unconstitutional since a simple law passed by Congress does not amend the US Constitution giving Congress the federal power to regulate education. Congress and President Carter violated the 10th Amendment by not first amending the US Constitution before passing a simple bill to establish the US Department of Education. If the federal government wants to regulate education, it must amend the US Constitution to do so. If the Supreme Court is consistent with its rulings, it will rule on this issue as it did on abortion.