President Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education delivers on a 45-year Republican promise, challenging decades of federal control over America’s failing education system while returning power to states and parents.
Key Takeaways
- Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education after 45 years of operation, fulfilling a longstanding Republican goal
- Despite the highest education spending per pupil globally, U.S. students rank near the bottom internationally in academic performance
- Essential education programs will be redistributed to other federal agencies while maintaining necessary services
- The order aims to return control of education to states, local communities, and parents
- Trump dismissed arguments that large populations require federal education oversight, citing international examples of successful local control
Trump Takes Historic Action Against Federal Education Control
In a decisive move that conservatives have advocated for decades, President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, declaring it a “historic action that was 45 years in the making.” The signing ceremony, strategically held with school children present, emphasized the administration’s position that federal control has failed America’s students. Trump’s order outlines specific steps for the department’s closure while ensuring that essential services continue uninterrupted during the transition of responsibilities to other agencies.
The executive order represents a fundamental shift in education policy, challenging the premise that federal oversight improves educational outcomes. Republicans have long criticized the Department of Education since its establishment under President Jimmy Carter in 1979, arguing it represents unnecessary federal overreach into matters better handled at state and local levels. Trump’s action delivers on promises made during his campaign and reflects a core conservative principle that education decisions should be made closer to the students they affect.
Poor Performance Despite Record Spending
Trump’s criticism of the Department of Education centers on its astronomical spending with minimal results. In his remarks, the President highlighted how American taxpayers shoulder the highest education costs globally while receiving dismal returns on their investment. “After 45 years, the United States spends more money on education by far than any other country and spends, likewise, by far, more money per pupil than any country. And it’s not even close. But yet we rank near the bottom of the list in terms of success,” Trump stated during the signing ceremony.
“After 45 years, the United States spends more money on education by far than any other country and spends, likewise, by far, more money per pupil than any country. And it’s not even close. But yet we rank near the bottom of the list in terms of success.” – President Trump
The statistics are damning: The Department of Education’s budget has ballooned by 375% since its inception, now consuming approximately $80 billion annually. Despite this massive financial investment, recent assessments reveal that 66% of American fourth-graders and 73% of eighth-graders lack proficiency in reading. Math scores are equally concerning, with 60% of fourth-graders and 73% of eighth-graders failing to achieve proficiency. These embarrassing outcomes persist despite decades of increased federal involvement and skyrocketing expenditures.
Returning Education to Local Control
The executive order explicitly aims to return education authority to states, local communities, and parents. Trump’s administration contends that those closest to students can better address their specific educational needs than federal bureaucrats in Washington. The order challenges the notion that one-size-fits-all federal mandates can effectively serve diverse communities across America. By dismantling the federal department, Trump seeks to eliminate what many conservatives view as an unnecessary middleman between taxpayer dollars and classroom resources.
“Today, we take a very historic action that was 45 years in the making. In a few moments, I will sign an executive order to begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all. And it sounds strange, doesn’t it? Department of Education, we’re going to eliminate it. And everybody knows it’s right, and the Democrats know it’s right. And I hope they’re going to be voting for it because, ultimately, it may come before them. But everybody knows it’s right, and we have to get our children educated. We’re not doing well with the world of education in this country, and we haven’t for a long time.” – President Trump
Trump dismissed the argument that America’s large population necessitates federal education oversight, pointing to international examples of successful decentralized models. Critics’ concerns about continuity of services appear addressed in the executive order’s provisions for transitioning essential functions to other agencies. The administration’s approach focuses on maintaining critical services while eliminating bureaucratic redundancies that have consumed education dollars without improving student outcomes. This restructuring prioritizes educational results over administrative expansion.
Sources:
- Trump Dismantles Department of Education With New Executive Order
- Trump signs executive order to dismantle the Education Department
