According to reports from CNN, Trump’s administration has begun drafting an executive order that would start the process of eliminating the Department of Education.
Advertisement
The order will direct the secretary of education to create a plan that will end the department through executive action.
Sources say Trump wants Congress to pass legislation that would end the education department. Those who are working on the order understand they need Congress’ involvement in order to get rid of the department.
Advertisement
During Trump’s first term as president, his administration proposed merging the Education and Labor Departments into one federal agency. The proposal did not gain any traction. This is not the first time someone tried to remove or merge the Department of Education. Historically this move has failed to gain support from Congress.
As of Friday, dozens of employees at the Education Department were placed on paid administrative leave due to Trump administration efforts to rid employees associated with diversity, equity, inclusion.
Advertisement
Even if Trump were to succeed at dismantling the department, it is possible that some programs like federal funding programs for K-12 schools that support the education of students from low-income families and children with disabilities could be retained and shifted to other agencies.
According to Brookings Institution, 71% of the time when presidents have proposed budget cuts to the education department in the past, Congress has resisted and assigned more funding than what the president asked for.
