Trump’s Plan to Dismantle U.S. Department of Education, Says Report

On March 6, 2025, President Donald Trump is expected to take a bold step that could reshape the landscape of American education. Reports from the Wall Street Journal suggest he’ll sign an executive order aimed at abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, a move that’s been simmering in his campaign promises for years.

If this happens, it won’t just be a policy shift—it could be a seismic change, handing the reins of education back to the states and sparking a nationwide debate about how we teach our kids. Let’s dive into what’s happening, why it matters, and what might come next.

What’s in the Executive Order?

According to a draft obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Trump’s order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure” of the department, within the limits of the law. That’s a tall order for McMahon, who’s barely settled into her role.

The plan isn’t to snap the department out of existence overnight—Trump can’t do that without Congress—but to start winding it down, slashing programs not explicitly protected by statute, and nudging lawmakers to finish the job. It’s a classic Trump play: bold, disruptive, and designed to shake up the status quo.

This isn’t a new idea for him. Back in September 2023, he posted a video on social media promising to “close up the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and send all education and education work and needs back to the states.” Now, with a second term underway, he’s got the chance to turn that promise into action. The Wall Street Journal says the order could drop as early as Thursday, March 6—meaning we’re on the cusp of a major policy pivot.

Why Does Trump Want This?

Trump’s been vocal about his beef with the Department of Education for a while. He’s called it a symbol of federal overreach, arguing it meddles too much in what should be local decisions.

During his campaign, he tied it to hot-button culture war issues, claiming it’s a hub for “indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material.” For him and his supporters, scrapping the department is about cutting bureaucracy and giving states—and parents—more say over what kids learn.

This isn’t just Trump’s brainchild, either. The Republican Party’s platform has echoed this call, and it’s a key piece of Project 2025, a conservative roadmap crafted by the Heritage Foundation.

That plan suggests scattering the department’s duties—like moving student loans to the Treasury or civil rights enforcement to the Justice Department. Trump distanced himself from Project 2025 during the campaign, but the overlap here is hard to miss.

What Does the Department Even Do?

Before we get too far, let’s break down what the Department of Education actually handles. Created in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, it’s got a $79 billion budget and about 4,400 employees. It doesn’t run schools—that’s a state and local job—but it plays a huge role in funding and oversight. Think $18 billion for Title I programs to help low-income schools, $15 billion for special education, and a whopping $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio. It also enforces civil rights laws, making sure schools don’t discriminate based on race, sex, or disability.

Trump’s argument is that states can handle this stuff better without a federal middleman. Critics, though, say that without the department, you’d lose a safety net for vulnerable students—like those in poor districts or with special needs—who rely on federal cash and protections.

Can He Actually Pull This Off?

Here’s the catch: Trump can’t just wave a magic wand and make the department vanish. It was born by an act of Congress, and only Congress can kill it. That means getting 60 votes in the Senate to beat a filibuster—a tough ask when Republicans hold a slim 53-47 edge and Democrats are already crying foul. Last year, a House vote to axe the department flopped when 60 Republicans joined Democrats to say no.

So, what can Trump do? Plenty, actually. He could gut the agency from the inside—cut staff, freeze programs, or shift duties to other departments where the law allows. Reports say his team’s already started, with dozens of Education Department employees put on paid leave and pressure mounting for others to quit. Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) crew is even poking around, looking for cuts. It’s not abolition, but it could leave the department a hollow shell.

Ripple Effects

If this plan gains traction, the impact would be massive. States could gain more freedom to shape curriculums, which might thrill conservatives fed up with federal mandates. School choice—a GOP favorite—could get a boost, with Trump already signing an order last week to push federal funds toward private and charter schools.

But there’s a flip side. Becky Pringle, head of the National Education Association, warns it could “steal resources” from vulnerable kids, balloon class sizes, and gut special education. Student loan borrowers—42 million strong—are jittery too. If the department’s loan programs get shuffled or slashed, repayment plans like Public Service Loan Forgiveness could vanish, leaving folks in the lurch.

Higher education’s not safe either. Colleges rely on the department for Pell Grants and institutional aid. Move that to the Treasury, as some suggest, and you might see a shift toward privatization—more private loans, less federal support. It’s a mixed bag, depending on where you stand.