Trump signs executive order to downsize Department of Education, shift power to states

President Donald Trump signed a long-anticipated executive order on Thursday aimed at significantly reducing the size and influence of the U.S. Department of Education, marking a major move toward shifting educational authority back to individual states.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that while the department will be scaled down, critical services such as student loan management and Pell Grant distribution will continue. The order does not abolish the department entirely—something that would require Congressional approval—but it begins the process of transferring many responsibilities to state governments.

Newly appointed Education Secretary Linda McMahon, confirmed earlier this month, said the department will continue supporting key student groups while working with states to ensure a smooth transition.

Her statement, titled “Our Department’s Final Mission,” described the effort as a responsible rollback of federal bureaucracy in favor of local control.

The order instructs that no Department of Education funds will be used for programs promoting DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) or gender ideology. Trump administration officials have been critical of such initiatives, calling them distractions from core academic priorities.

According to a White House fact sheet, the move is motivated by long-term concerns over educational outcomes. Despite trillions spent since the department was formed in 1979, student performance metrics like NAEP scores have shown little improvement.

Trump, who campaigned on eliminating the department, cited its role in promoting what he called ideological indoctrination. The restructuring effort is being framed as both a philosophical shift and a cost-cutting measure.

While the executive order sets a dramatic tone, full dissolution of the department remains unlikely without legislative support. Still, this move marks a significant reshaping of federal education policy—and a bold signal of the Trump administration’s continued push for decentralization.