Washington — President Trump is expected to issue an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to start the process of dissolving the Education Department, sources tell CBS News, although the timing of such a move is unclear and Mr. Trump confirmed Thursday that he still wants to “bring the schools back to the states.”
Sources confirmed the details of a Wall Street Journal report, which first reported the news, are accurate. According to the Journal, there is a draft version of the executive order.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X that no such executive order will be signed on Thursday, after CBS News and other outlets reported the president planned to sign it as early as that day. Sources said it was possible the signing would be moved to a later date.
“More Fake News! President Trump is NOT signing an Executive Order on the Department of Education today,” Leavitt wrote.
Still, Mr. Trump told reporters he’s not having second thoughts about such an executive order.
“No, no, no, no,” Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “I want to bring the schools, I want to bring the schools back to the states.”
Mr. Trump was also asked when he might sign such an order.
“Well, I want to just do it,” the president said. “I mean, we’re starting the process. We’re trying to get the schools back into the states. Let the states run the schools. And I’ll tell you, you’ll see something, it’s gonna blow your mind, it’ll be run so well.”
The president also said top administration officials discussed on Thursday which federal entity would be responsible for student loans, when a reporter asked what would happen to student loans if the Education Department is dissolved. He said student loans would be “brought into either Treasury or Small Business Administration or Commerce.”
Completely eliminating the department would require congressional approval and 60 votes in the Senate, which is unlikely given the current makeup.
Senate Democrats held a news conference on Thursday about the planned executive order, with Majoirty Leader Chuck Schumer saying that “it’s no secret that they’re aiming to abolish the Department of Education.”
Dismantling the Department of Education has long been a goal for Republicans, dating back to the Reagan administration. Hours after McMahon was confirmed by the Senate, she issued a memo with the subject line “Our Department’s Final Mission.” The memo said “this is our opportunity to perform one final, unforgettable public service to future generations of students. I hope you will join me in ensuring that when our final mission is complete; we will be able to say that we left American education freer, stronger, and with more hope for the future.”
Randi Weingarten, the head of the nation’s largest teachers’ union, the AFT, issued a statement Thursday morning noting an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll with 63% of respondents “strongly opposed” to dismantling the Education Department.
“The Department of Education, and the laws it is supposed to execute, has one major purpose: to level the playing field and fill opportunity gaps to help every child in America succeed,” Weingarten said. “Trying to abolish it — which, by the way, only Congress can do — sends a message that the president doesn’t care about opportunity for all kids. Maybe he cares about it for his own kids or his friends’ kids or his donors’ kids — but not all kids.”
What does the Department of Education do?
The Education Department is responsible for distributing federal financial aid for education, and for collecting and disseminating data and research related to schools. The department is also tasked with enforcing non-discrimination policies in schools.
Its funds account for less than 10% of the nation’s public school funding, which is primarily driven by state and local taxes.
Generally, it supports federal college loan programs and Pell Grants, and also vocational training.
contributed to this report.
