Trump signs executive order to close Ministry of Education

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Trump began closing the U.S. Department of Education by signing an executive order to follow a major campaign promise. According to USA Today, the order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon, directing that the move will spark legal battles and debates in a public school role in a public school. The order guides Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take “all the necessary steps” to close departments and connect education control with individual states. However, as McMahon works in the transition program, he will continue to fund programs such as student loans, special education and low-income school aid. What will happen next? Although Trump’s signature marks the beginning of the process, the education department will not be removed overnight. Since Congress initially established the agency in 1979, it has completely eliminated that would require legislative approval – a tough battle given the possibility of democratic opposition, even from the hesitation of some moderate Republicans. The executive order believes that despite spending more than $1 trillion in federal education funds over the past 46 years, student performance has not improved. It points to the decline in mathematics and reading scores as evidence of the department's failure. Trump and other Republicans claim that too much federal oversight will burden schools with regulations rather than helping students. The impact on school abuses, the order warns that disbanding the education sector can cause confusion, especially for students relying on federal programs. There are concerns that supervision over school funding and civil rights protection could become inconsistent without central institutions. The order explicitly prohibits any remaining sectoral funding from being used to improve diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) initiatives or gender ideology. Trump and his allies have repeatedly criticized the plans, saying they distracted the focus of traditional education. More than 1,300 employees have been fired recently, as part of a bigger effort to narrow the federal government. Since the start of Trump’s second term, the agency’s total workforce has dropped from more than 4,000 to 2,100. The broader model of executive power is the latest move by Trump to consolidate the executive more widely. His administration has tried to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and reduce the operations of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency – benefits that are prone to legal challenges. Trump has long believed that states should have full control over education policies, often praising countries such as Iowa and Indiana for handling school systems. However, the curriculum for public schools has been decided by state and local governments, and the federal government plays a role primarily in funding and accountability for schools receiving federal aid. Executive orders ahead of the legal struggle are expected to face immediate legal challenges, similar to Trump's recent attempt to demolish the U.S. Agency for International Development, which was blocked by a federal judge in Maryland. Opponents believe that unilateral closure of federal departments is beyond the president's authority without Congress' approval. It is unlikely that Congress will formally eliminate the Department of Education through legislation, and the Trump administration may try to transfer it to other aspects by cutting funds, reducing responsibilities, and transferring it to other government positions. While Trump insists that shifting power to the states will improve education, critics worry about the lack of a clear plan for managing school foundation and accountability at the national level.The political and legal fights over the fate of the Education Department are just beginning, and the outcome will have major implications for the future of education policy in the USLike this:Like Loading…Discover more from Baller AlertSubscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

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