Trump has US Department of Education closes

Folder is responsible for supervising schools, as well as passing on funds to colleges and educational programs. Extinguishing the department, however, needs to be approved by the US Congress.

United States President Donald Trump signed a decree on Thursday (03/20) that prepares the land to end the country’s department of education.

The decree essentially dismantled the federal folder at the federal level by education, leaving school policies almost entirely in the hands of states and local collegiate. The measure meets a Trump campaign promise made to conservatives.

In a ceremony at the White House, Trump said the decree opens the way to “eliminate” the department totally – something that depends on the approval of Congress, where the measure is currently few chances of prospering.

“We will close it and do it as soon as possible. It is not doing well. We want to return our students to states,” Trump said before Republican congressmen and a group of students.

“Trump knows perfectly well that you can’t abolish the Department of Education without Congress,” Democratic Senator Patty Murray said in a statement. “But he knows that the whole team is dismissed and crush it [o órgão] In pieces, you may have a similar devastating result. ”

What the Decree says

With the decree, Trump seeks to limit folder to basic functions, such as student loan management, the Pell Grant scholarship program and resource for children with special needs.

Today, the Department of Education supervises about 100,000 public schools and 34,000 private education institutions in the country, although more than 85% of public school funding comes from state and local governments.

The agency also sends money to needy schools and finances some programs, including the payment of teachers to children with special needs, as well as allocation for infrastructure and managing $ 1.6 trillion in student funding for thousands of Americans who are unable to afford a higher level study.

This Thursday’s decree comes after the announcement last week of the dismissal of almost half of the department officials.

This is Trump’s latest offensive, who took over the White House two months ago to reshape the US government.

Before the ceremony, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt justified the dismantling of the organ by alluding to the “disappointing” levels of literacy and the unsatisfactory performance of American children in exams.

Education has long been a field of political dispute in the US, with conservatives favoring policies in favor of private schools and progressive voters defending government programs and financing for public schools.

Department was created in 1979

The end of the department, created in 1979 by then -President Jimmy Carter, is an old demand from conservative US groups.

During his first term, Trump had already proposed to extinguish the folder, but did not get the necessary support from Congress to do so.

But upon returning the government, Trump soon turned against agency. Its workforce was already being reduced in half, and there were deep cuts in the civil rights office and the Institute of Education Sciences, which brings together data on the country’s academic progress.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the new decree guides McMahon to take all the necessary measures to facilitate the extinction of the education department at the maximum limit allowed by law.

For the complete closure of the folder, however, Trump needs the approval of Congress. The measure needs at least 60 votes in favor in the Senate, something unlikely, as Republicans have only 53 chairs in the house.

Questioning about interests

The closure of the folder can interrupt dozens of billions of dollars passed on to public schools in elementary and high school, as well as assistance to college students.

Defenders of the Education Department state that it is crucial to maintaining high public education standards and accuses Republicans of trying to boost education for profit.

During the campaign, Trump promised to decentralize education, stating that he would return the powers of the portfolio to states. During the government of Joe Biden, the department was under criticism due to the forgiveness of student debts and policies related to diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Trump and his billionaire Advisor Elon Musk have been promoting the dismantling of government programs and institutions, alleging as motivation an alleged reduction in government spending. This executive order has been added to the almost 100 signed by Trump since the beginning of his term on January 20.

Originally published by DW on 03/20/2025