Trump signs order to dismantle the entire US education department

US President Donald Trump has followed through on his attempt to shut down America’s Department of Education by signing an executive order* to dismantle the agency that oversees the country’s education policy.

US opposition party the Democrats slammed the move, labelling it a “horrible decision” that will “harm millions of children”.

“Attempting to dismantle the Department of Education is one of the most destructive and devastating steps Donald Trump has ever taken. This. Will. Hurt. Kids,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote in a statement on X.

“This horrible decision by Donald Trump will be felt by teachers, parents, school leaders, and in the quality of education our children receive. Across the country property taxes* will go up, while the quality of many schools will go down.”

Yet, by dismantling the department, Mr Trump has fulfilled an election campaign promise “to return our students to the states” and remove the federal layer of education policy and funding.

The funding of education has long been considered a central role of governments in wealthy countries across the world. So, why would Mr Trump take away an agency that helps to provide education for the American people? And does US law even allow him to do that?

WHAT IS THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION?
America’s Department of Education is a government agency that oversees national education policy and administers government assistance programs to schools across the country. The cabinet-level agency was created by former US President Jimmy Carter in 1979.

According to Reuters, the department oversees 10,000 public schools and 34,000 private schools, though about 85 per cent of school funding in the US comes from state and local funding. The department also provides funding grants and about $1.6 trillion in student loans* for the tens of millions who cannot afford to pay for University outright.

WHY IS TRUMP DISMANTLING IT?
Mr Trump has claimed that the department is a “big con job” and has repeatedly called for it to be dismantled. He proposed shutting it down during his first term as president, however Congress didn’t act.

“Federal government control of education has failed students, parents and teachers,” the White House said in its summary. The statement went on to claim that the department had spent more than $3 trillion since it was formed in 1979 and that standardised test scores had shown no improvement in student performance since then.

“We’re gonna shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. It’s doing us no good,” he said as he signed the executive order at the White House surrounded by a group of schoolchildren sitting at desks.

CAN TRUMP DISBAND A GOVERNMENT AGENCY?
In order for Mr Trump to dismantle the Department of Education, or any entire government department, he would need to gain the approval of Congress*. Since the government doesn’t have the necessary votes needed in Congress to gain approval, Mr Trump’s executive order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate* the closure (of) the Department of Education and return education authority to the States, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”

According to ABC News, shortly after he became president, Mr Trump laid off more than half the department’s workforce.

US Democrat senator Patty Murray said in a statement: “Donald Trump knows perfectly well he can’t abolish* the Department of Education without Congress — but he understands that if you fire all the staff and smash it to pieces, you might get a similar, devastating result.”

Mr Trump has previously acknowledged that he would need the support of politicians and teachers’ unions in order to fully close the department.

So what do the teachers of America think about Mr Trump’s decision?

“See you in court,” the head of the American Federation of Teachers union, Randi Weingarten, said in a statement.

COULD THIS HAPPEN IN AUSTRALIA?
It would be extremely unlikely. Australia has a structured education system starting with the Department of Education and Training (DET) at the national level, which is responsible for national education policies and programs across early childhood, schooling, university and vocational education* in conjunction with state, territory and regional networks.

In Australia, the Prime Minister doesn’t have the power to change laws or sign executive orders. All new legislation has to be voted on and passed through two houses of parliament, the House of Representatives and the Senate, before becoming law.

However, the Prime Minister is able to dismantle and merge* federal government departments. In 2019, then Prime Minister Scott Morrison made headlines with his plan to merge the Department of Education with the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business to create the Department of Education, Skills and Employment. Even then, the merger wouldn’t have removed the level of federal policy and funding that Mr Trump’s dismantling will.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• executive order: an order issued by the president to the executive branch of the government that has the force of law
• property taxes: much of the school funding in America comes from property taxes
• student loans: university is quite expensive and many students rely on loans to pay for their education
• Congress: the legislative branch of the US Government, where the laws of the country are made
• facilitate: make something easier
• abolish: get rid of something
• vocational education: practical, hands on training specific to certain trades or industries
• merge: join two or more things together

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QUICK QUIZ
1. Which agency is Mr Trump attempting to shut down?
2. How have the Democrats responded?
3. When was the Department of Education founded?
4. Why is Mr Trump attempting to dismantle it?
5. Whose approval does Mr Trump need in order to fully shut down the department?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Considering the consequences
Trump’s dismantling of the Department of Education has been labelled “destructive and devastating” as well as a “horrible decision,” however the news article doesn’t go into the specifics of what those criticising the decision think will happen. Describe three possible consequences that you think could come as a result of having no federal agency to oversee and provide funding for education in the US.

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; HASS/Civics and Citizenship

2. Extension
If you had the power to make policy about education, what are five fundamental principles that you would put in place?

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; HASS/Civics and Citizenship

VCOP ACTIVITY
Read this!
A headline on an article – or a title on your text – should capture the attention of the audience, telling them to read this now. So choosing the perfect words for a headline or title is very important.

Create three new headlines for the events that took place in this article. Remember, what you write and how you write it will set the pace for the whole text, so make sure it matches.

Read out your headlines to a partner and discuss what the article will be about based on the headline you created. Discuss the tone and mood you set in just your few, short words. Does it do the article justice? Will it capture the audience’s attention the way you hoped? Would you want to read more?

Consider how a headline or title is similar to using short, sharp sentences throughout your text. They can be just as important as complex ones. Go through the last text you wrote and highlight any short, sharp sentences that capture the audience.