The order says the education secretary shall facilitate the closure of the department.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump on March 20 signed an executive order that facilitates the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education.
“We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible,” Trump said before signing the order.
The order states in part that “The Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement after Trump signed the order that funds for special needs students, those who have federal student loans, and others would not be cut off.
“We’re going to follow the law and eliminate the bureaucracy responsibly by working with Congress and state leaders to ensure a lawful and orderly transition,” she said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters earlier Thursday that the Department of Education would continue to administer key programs such as Pell grants.
However, Trump said that critical components of the department such as Pell grants and resources for children with disabilities would be “preserved in full” but shifted to other agencies, while the rest of the department would be abolished.
The Department of Education was split by a federal law from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1979, becoming an independent agency.
It helps promote education of students and administers student loans and other programs.
In discussing eliminating the agency, Trump and the White House have pointed to subpar test scores in the United States and in global rankings when compared to other countries, including other nations that are also part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
“Despite per-pupil spending having increased by more than 245% over that period, there has been virtually no measurable improvement in student achievement,” the White House said in a statement.
“Math and reading scores for 13-year-olds are at the lowest level in decades,” the statement read, adding that many students are not proficient in math and reading. “U.S. students rank 28 out of 37 OECD member countries in math.”
By Zachary Stieber and Emel Akan
