President Trump Takes Historic First Step to Eliminate Department of Education

In a bold move to return education decisions to parents and states, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order today to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. Surrounded by schoolchildren at the White House, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to empowering families and ending Washington’s stranglehold on education.

“Closing the Department of Education would provide children and their families the opportunity to escape a system that is failing them,” Trump declared as he signed the order.

For decades, conservatives have called for the elimination of the Department of Education, arguing that federal overreach has harmed student outcomes while wasting billions of taxpayer dollars. Despite the U.S. spending the second-most per student globally, national test scores continue to show declining proficiency in basic subjects like reading and math.

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) echoed this concern, stating, “I’ve always said that education is the key to unlocking opportunity. But despite spending the second-most money per student of any other country, our students are struggling to read at grade level or do basic math. It’s past time we get the federal government OUT of the classroom.”

The executive order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin the process of shifting responsibilities from the federal government to state and local control. Key programs such as Pell Grants and Title I funding will remain intact, but federal oversight of curriculum and standards will be dramatically reduced.

Alabama lawmakers praised Trump’s action, with Representative Barry Moore (R-AL) calling it a “massive step” toward making the U.S. the global standard in education once again. “President Trump continues to deliver on the promises he made to the American people,” Moore said.

Congressman Dale Strong (R-AL) reaffirmed his long-standing support for dismantling the department, stating, “President Trump took the first step today with his Executive Order to return decision-making power to the states and parents. I will work with him to make sure this gets done for our parents and kids.”

The order marks the beginning of what is sure to be a contentious battle. While conservatives celebrate the move as a win for school choice and local control, Democrats and teachers’ unions have vowed to fight the effort, claiming it will harm public education.

With today’s order, Trump has set the stage for a dramatic shift in American education policy, fulfilling a promise that resonates deeply with conservative voters. Now, the challenge moves to Congress, where Republican lawmakers must push forward to make this vision a reality.