The radical Left couldn’t be more furious. They can’t believe what the president has done.
And Leftists have gone nuclear after Trump took an axe to this corrupt government agency.
In a historic move on Thursday, President Donald Trump put pen to paper, signing an executive order that sets in motion the closure of the Department of Education. Surrounded by a lively crowd of school children, lawmakers, parental rights champions, and Republican governors like Florida’s Ron DeSantis and Ohio’s Mike DeWine, Trump made a bold declaration: “The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars — and the unaccountable bureaucracy those programs and dollars support — has plainly failed our children, our teachers, and our families.”
The signing ceremony was a vivid display of Trump’s long-standing promise to dismantle the federal agency, a pledge he championed throughout his campaign. In a speech moments before signing, he reflected on the department’s origins, noting, “When President Carter created the Federal Education Department in 1979, it was opposed by members of his own cabinet as well as the American Federation of Teachers, the New York Times Editorial Board, and the famed Democrat Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. History has proven them right — absolutely right.”
BREAKING: President Donald J. Trump signs an executive order to officially begin the process of closing the Department of Education. pic.twitter.com/A652ZCudOS
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 20, 2025
The executive order directs the Education Secretary “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.”
It also mandates strict oversight of federal funds, ensuring that any program receiving support must eliminate “illegal discrimination obscured under the label ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology,” as outlined in the order.
Trump was quick to reassure the public that critical programs wouldn’t vanish in the shuffle – programs like student loans, Pell Grants and Title I funding.
He emphasized his commitment to these essentials, saying, “It’s very important to [Education Secretary] Linda [McMahon] I know, and it’s very important to all of us. But beyond these core necessities, my administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department. We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. It’s doing us no good.”
The President also took a moment to shine a spotlight on the nation’s educators. “Teachers to me are among the most important people in this country, and we’re going to take care of our teachers. And I don’t care if they’re in the union or not in the union — that doesn’t matter,” he stated. “But we’re going to take care of our teachers. And I believe, I believe the states will take actually better care of them than they are taking care of [them] right now.”
The Department of Education, established 45 years ago under President Jimmy Carter to bolster state education systems, has been a frequent target of Trump’s criticism. The White House reinforced this stance earlier Thursday, pointing out that the agency has spent over $3 trillion since its creation “with virtually nothing to show for it.” Spending per student has skyrocketed by more than 245 percent, yet student performance remains stagnant.
The Nation’s Report Card paints a grim picture: math and reading scores are at historic lows, with most fourth and eighth graders falling short of proficiency and 40 percent of fourth graders not even meeting basic reading standards. Globally, U.S. students lag, ranking 28th out of 37 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (EOECD) countries in math.
“Instead of maintaining the status quo that is failing American students, the Trump Administration’s bold plan will return education where it belongs — with individual states, which are best positioned to administer effective programs and services that benefit their own unique populations and needs,” the White House stated.
While dissolving the department entirely requires Congressional approval, Trump has tapped Education Secretary Linda McMahon to spearhead the wind-down process. With a playful nod before her confirmation, he quipped that he wants her “to put herself out of a job,” a sentiment he echoed at the signing: “Hopefully she will be our last secretary of education.” He added, “We’re going to eliminate it, and everybody knows it’s right, and the Democrats know it’s right. And I hope they’re going to be voting for it, because ultimately it may come before them.”
The response was swift. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, took to X shortly after the signing, promising to “submit legislation” to make Trump’s vision a reality “as soon as possible.”
McMahon, in a statement, hailed the order as a “history-making action” that would “free future generations of American students and forge opportunities for their success.” She stressed, “Education is fundamentally a state responsibility. Instead of filtering resources through layers of federal red tape, we will empower states to take charge and advocate for and implement what is best for students, families, and educators in their communities.”
McMahon also assured that the transition would safeguard vital support systems. “Closing the Department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them—we will continue to support K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs,” she said. “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.”
The department has already begun trimming its operations, recently axing nearly $1 billion in grants, slashing wasteful spending on DEI initiatives, and cutting its workforce by half to streamline efforts. But not everyone is on board. Teachers’ unions and the American Federation of Government Employees, representing federal workers at the department, have voiced strong opposition. National President Everett Kelley warned, “The Department of Education plays a crucial role supporting our students and their families at schools and universities in every community across this nation, and President Trump’s directive to eliminate this small but mighty agency would destroy our education system and devastate future generations of students.”
As the debate heats up, Trump’s executive order marks a pivotal step toward reshaping how America educates its children, placing the power firmly back in the hands of states, communities, and parents.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
