Overview

• President Donald Trump has signed an executive order instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to reduce the Department of Education's functions and prepare for its closure.
• The Department's responsibilities, including federal student loans and grants, may be shifted to other agencies, pending further action.
• The full dissolution of the Department requires Congressional approval, which is unlikely due to opposition from Senate Democrats.
• Critics, including teacher unions and advocacy groups, warn that the move could harm underfunded schools and students with special needs, exacerbating educational inequality.
• Nearly half of the Department's workforce has already been laid off as part of broader federal downsizing efforts led by Trump and advisor Elon Musk.