Presidential Decree on the Closure of the U.S. Department of Education

On 20 March 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that initiated the process of closing the USA Department of Education. The order aims to transfer federal education authority to the states and terminate the department’s operations.

_{A photograph of Donald Trump signing the presidential executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education, 20 March 2025 – Anadolu Agency}

The U.S. Department of Education was established in 1979 by congressional resolution at the initiative of then-President Jimmy Carter. Its founding purpose was to consolidate various federal education programs under a centralized structure and coordinate education policy at the federal level. The department assumed responsibilities including the distribution of funds allocated from the federal budget, management of student loans, implementation of support programs for disadvantaged and disabled students, and enforcement of measures to prevent discrimination like.

On 20 March 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating the process to close the Department of Education. The order asserts that federal education policies have been unsuccessful, that the centralized structure has not improved student outcomes, and that it has created bureaucratic bottlenecks in education. In particular, the funding mechanisms used by the department and its student credit programs have been criticized.

According to the order:

• Education Secretary Linda McMahon has been instructed to take all necessary steps to close the department and transfer its authorities to the states.
• It is emphasized that all programs and services currently operated by the Department of Education must continue without interruption.
• The order states that future funding will no longer support activities based on concepts such as “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) and “gender ideology.”

The Trump administration has characterized the Department of Education as an entity that does not educate students, does not define educational standards, and does not directly employ teachers building. It has argued that student academic performance remains low, that the department manages the student loan system like a financial institution but lacks the institutional capacity to fulfill this function effectively. The text of the order notes that the loan portfolio under the department’s management has reached a size of $1.6 trillion and that this burden must be transferred to other institutions.

_{A photograph of Donald Trump signing the presidential executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education, 20 March 2025 – Anadolu Agency}

The presidential executive order does not directly abolish the Department of Education. Under the U.S. Constitution, the complete elimination of a federal department requires congressional approval. Therefore, Trump’s order initiates the process but cannot take effect without the authorization of the legislative body.

Although Republicans hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate chair, a 60-vote threshold together is required to pass such legislation. Democratic senators and some Republican senators have opposed the measure.

The executive order has generated widespread echo in public opinion and political circles. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer described the decision as “appalling” and stated that courts must intervene to challenge this executive action. Schumer further declared, “The attempt to dismantle the Department of Education is one of the most destructive and damaging steps Donald Trump has taken to date.” Unions representing education workers and civil society organizations have also launched legal process against the order.

According to the White House statement, the current responsibilities of the Department of Education are planned to be transferred to other federal agencies. The names of these agencies have not been explicitly identified. President Trump has stated that student loan programs, services for students with disabilities, and support for schools in disadvantaged areas will continue but will be managed by other structures. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, in a message to her staff, requested that they take “all necessary steps” to facilitate the department’s closure.