Trump Signs Executive Order to Dismantle Department of Education

President Donald Trump signed a March 20 executive order, “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities,” which directs the secretary of education to “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.” The secretary of education is also directed to terminate all federal assistance under the label of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” or terms “promoting gender ideology.”  

House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) issued the following statement following the signing of the order: “We now have a secretary of education, Linda McMahon, who understands the importance of getting the federal government out of the way. And I look forward to working alongside her to get the federal government off the backs of students, families, educators, and taxpayers.” Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-Va.) issued his own statement detailing concerns with the executive order, noting, “Legality aside, dismantling ED will exacerbate existing disparities, reduce accountability, and put low-income students, students of color, students with disabilities, rural students, and English as a Second Language (ESL) students at risk." 

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.) also issued a statement in response to the executive order, noting, “I agree with President Trump that the Department of Education has failed its mission. … Since the Department can only be shut down with congressional approval, I will support the President’s goals by submitting legislation to accomplish this as soon as possible.” 

The Department of Education houses a variety of programs and functions that support access to medical education, including the federal direct student loan portfolio, coordination of the annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process, oversight of federal student loan servicers and servicing contracts, and administration of income-driven repayment plans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, among others.