Trump signs order to dismantle US education department

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, fulfilling a campaign promise and a long-standing objective for some conservatives.

Criticizing the agency for "breath-taking failures," the Republican president pledged to return the funds it oversees to individual states. "We're going to shut it down as quickly as possible," Trump declared, though the White House acknowledged that fully closing the agency would require congressional approval.

The decision is already encountering legal challenges from those aiming to prevent the agency's closure, as well as opposition to the significant staff cuts announced the previous week.

Most children in the US attend public schools, which are free and managed by local authorities.

A common misconception is that the federal Department of Education operates US schools and determines curricula, but in reality, this responsibility lies with state and local districts.

Only about 13% of the funding for primary and secondary education comes from the federal government, with the majority coming from state and local taxes.

Established in 1979, the Department of Education oversees student loans and runs programs to support low-income students. However, President Trump has accused the department of indoctrinating young people with racial, sexual, and political content.

During a meeting with children seated at school desks in the White House on Thursday, Trump noted, "The US spends more money on education than any other country," but added that American students rank near the bottom globally. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the US spends about 5.4% of its GDP on education, which is higher than many other countries, though not all.

The Department of Education’s budget last year was $238 billion (£188 billion), less than 2% of the federal budget. The White House stated that the administration would seek to cut parts of the department while staying within legal limits.

Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education is expected to face legal challenges, as many of his administration's efforts to reduce the size of the federal government have done.

At the signing ceremony, Trump praised Linda McMahon, whom he appointed to lead the department, and expressed his hope that she would be the last Secretary of Education. He added that he would find "something else" for her to do within the administration.

After the order was signed, Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy announced plans to introduce legislation to close the department. However, with Republicans holding a slim 53-47 majority in the Senate and the need for 60 votes to close a federal department, the proposal faces significant hurdles.