Secretary of Education Linda McMahon News Tracker
"Trump Signs Executive Order to Dismantle Department of Education, Decentralize Education Authority"
On March 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education." This move marks a significant step towards fulfilling Trump's campaign promise to dismantle the federal agency and return control of education to states and local communities.
Secretary McMahon, who was confirmed by the Senate earlier this month, has embraced this mission, calling it the department's "final" task. In a statement following the executive order, she said, "Today's Executive Order is a history-making action by President Trump to free future generations of American students and forge opportunities for their success. We are sending education back to the states where it so rightly belongs."
The order comes on the heels of McMahon's decision to cut the department's workforce by half, impacting nearly 1,300 employees. This reduction in force has already led to the closure of over half of the department's civil rights enforcement offices and the dismissal of most National Center for Education Statistics staff.
McMahon has outlined three key priorities for the department's remaining time: prioritizing parents as primary decision-makers in their children's education, focusing on fundamental subjects rather than diversity initiatives, and promoting higher education as a pathway to career success.
Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and education advocates, have expressed concern about the impact of these changes on students, particularly those from marginalized communities. They argue that dismantling the department could lead to a rollback of civil rights protections and reduced support for students with disabilities.
However, McMahon contends that the move will empower teachers and reduce bureaucratic burden. "Teachers will be unshackled from burdensome regulations and paperwork, empowering them to get back to teaching basic subjects," she stated.
The executive order has also sparked debate about the fate of crucial federal education programs. Trump has indicated that core functions like Pell Grants, Title I funding, and resources for students with disabilities will be redistributed to other government agencies.
While the order represents a bold step towards shutting down the Department of Education, complete elimination would require congressional approval. Some Republican governors and lawmakers have already expressed support for legislation to accomplish this goal.
As the situation unfolds, educators, parents, and policymakers are closely watching to see how these changes will impact the American education system. Secretary McMahon faces the challenging task of managing this transition while ensuring that essential educational services continue uninterrupted.
Secretary McMahon, who was confirmed by the Senate earlier this month, has embraced this mission, calling it the department's "final" task. In a statement following the executive order, she said, "Today's Executive Order is a history-making action by President Trump to free future generations of American students and forge opportunities for their success. We are sending education back to the states where it so rightly belongs."
The order comes on the heels of McMahon's decision to cut the department's workforce by half, impacting nearly 1,300 employees. This reduction in force has already led to the closure of over half of the department's civil rights enforcement offices and the dismissal of most National Center for Education Statistics staff.
McMahon has outlined three key priorities for the department's remaining time: prioritizing parents as primary decision-makers in their children's education, focusing on fundamental subjects rather than diversity initiatives, and promoting higher education as a pathway to career success.
Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and education advocates, have expressed concern about the impact of these changes on students, particularly those from marginalized communities. They argue that dismantling the department could lead to a rollback of civil rights protections and reduced support for students with disabilities.
However, McMahon contends that the move will empower teachers and reduce bureaucratic burden. "Teachers will be unshackled from burdensome regulations and paperwork, empowering them to get back to teaching basic subjects," she stated.
The executive order has also sparked debate about the fate of crucial federal education programs. Trump has indicated that core functions like Pell Grants, Title I funding, and resources for students with disabilities will be redistributed to other government agencies.
While the order represents a bold step towards shutting down the Department of Education, complete elimination would require congressional approval. Some Republican governors and lawmakers have already expressed support for legislation to accomplish this goal.
As the situation unfolds, educators, parents, and policymakers are closely watching to see how these changes will impact the American education system. Secretary McMahon faces the challenging task of managing this transition while ensuring that essential educational services continue uninterrupted.
- Broadcast on:
- 23 Mar 2025
On March 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education." This move marks a significant step towards fulfilling Trump's campaign promise to dismantle the federal agency and return control of education to states and local communities.
Secretary McMahon, who was confirmed by the Senate earlier this month, has embraced this mission, calling it the department's "final" task. In a statement following the executive order, she said, "Today's Executive Order is a history-making action by President Trump to free future generations of American students and forge opportunities for their success. We are sending education back to the states where it so rightly belongs."
The order comes on the heels of McMahon's decision to cut the department's workforce by half, impacting nearly 1,300 employees. This reduction in force has already led to the closure of over half of the department's civil rights enforcement offices and the dismissal of most National Center for Education Statistics staff.
McMahon has outlined three key priorities for the department's remaining time: prioritizing parents as primary decision-makers in their children's education, focusing on fundamental subjects rather than diversity initiatives, and promoting higher education as a pathway to career success.
Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and education advocates, have expressed concern about the impact of these changes on students, particularly those from marginalized communities. They argue that dismantling the department could lead to a rollback of civil rights protections and reduced support for students with disabilities.
However, McMahon contends that the move will empower teachers and reduce bureaucratic burden. "Teachers will be unshackled from burdensome regulations and paperwork, empowering them to get back to teaching basic subjects," she stated.
The executive order has also sparked debate about the fate of crucial federal education programs. Trump has indicated that core functions like Pell Grants, Title I funding, and resources for students with disabilities will be redistributed to other government agencies.
While the order represents a bold step towards shutting down the Department of Education, complete elimination would require congressional approval. Some Republican governors and lawmakers have already expressed support for legislation to accomplish this goal.
As the situation unfolds, educators, parents, and policymakers are closely watching to see how these changes will impact the American education system. Secretary McMahon faces the challenging task of managing this transition while ensuring that essential educational services continue uninterrupted.
Secretary McMahon, who was confirmed by the Senate earlier this month, has embraced this mission, calling it the department's "final" task. In a statement following the executive order, she said, "Today's Executive Order is a history-making action by President Trump to free future generations of American students and forge opportunities for their success. We are sending education back to the states where it so rightly belongs."
The order comes on the heels of McMahon's decision to cut the department's workforce by half, impacting nearly 1,300 employees. This reduction in force has already led to the closure of over half of the department's civil rights enforcement offices and the dismissal of most National Center for Education Statistics staff.
McMahon has outlined three key priorities for the department's remaining time: prioritizing parents as primary decision-makers in their children's education, focusing on fundamental subjects rather than diversity initiatives, and promoting higher education as a pathway to career success.
Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and education advocates, have expressed concern about the impact of these changes on students, particularly those from marginalized communities. They argue that dismantling the department could lead to a rollback of civil rights protections and reduced support for students with disabilities.
However, McMahon contends that the move will empower teachers and reduce bureaucratic burden. "Teachers will be unshackled from burdensome regulations and paperwork, empowering them to get back to teaching basic subjects," she stated.
The executive order has also sparked debate about the fate of crucial federal education programs. Trump has indicated that core functions like Pell Grants, Title I funding, and resources for students with disabilities will be redistributed to other government agencies.
While the order represents a bold step towards shutting down the Department of Education, complete elimination would require congressional approval. Some Republican governors and lawmakers have already expressed support for legislation to accomplish this goal.
As the situation unfolds, educators, parents, and policymakers are closely watching to see how these changes will impact the American education system. Secretary McMahon faces the challenging task of managing this transition while ensuring that essential educational services continue uninterrupted.