Donald Trump Signs Order to End U.S. Education Department

Donald Trump signs an order to dissolve the U.S. Education Department.

Washington: President Donald Trump took a historic step by signing an executive order to End the US Department of Education. The decision aims to give the right of educational policymaking from the federal government to the states and local communities.

Trump argues that local control is necessary in education policy. During the signing ceremony, Trump said, “There is no need for a federal education department. It only promotes bureaucracy and does not make any concrete improvement in the education of students. Education should be under the control of local governments and parents.”

Many leaders of the Republican Party have long supported the idea that control of education policy should be taken away from the federal government and given to states and local institutions. The Trump administration believes that giving states more freedom in education will improve the quality of schools.

However, congressional approval will be necessary to completely End the Department of Education, as the department was established under law in 1979. According to experts, this will be a long process and may face many legal challenges.

In case of closure of the Department of Education, the following major programs can be transferred under other federal agencies:

• Pell Grant: Program providing financial aid to low-income students
• Title I funding: Financial aid for low-income schools
• Special education programs: Special facilities for students with disabilities

This decision has received mixed reactions in political circles.

• Republican leaders have praised this move, calling it a “means of cutting government spending and improving education”.
• Democratic leaders have strongly opposed it and alleged that this move will make education unequal, especially for low-income and disabled students.
• Teacher unions and education experts have called it “dangerous” and said that this will have a negative impact on the education of millions of students.

Experts believe that there will be many challenges in implementing this decision. If Congress rejects this proposal, then this order may remain only symbolic. Apart from this, a legal battle may start against this order in many states.

However, it is clear from this decision that Trump has come with the intention of completely changing the education policy. If this plan succeeds, it will be a big change in the history of the American education system.

This decision of Donald Trump can further intensify the debate on education reforms in America. It will be interesting to see what stand Congress and the judiciary take on this. Will the Department of Education really end, or will it remain only a political rhetoric? This will be clear in the coming months.