Trump's audacious move to dismantle the Education Department ignites legal battles
The White House announced that President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Thursday to close the Department of Education. This was one of his key campaign promises, as media outlets recall.
A group of Democratic attorneys general in some states is challenging the announced decision. Last week, they filed a lawsuit to block President Trump's administration from proceeding with plans to dismantle the department and lay off nearly half of its staff.
According to the media, the order directs the head of the Department of Education, Linda McMahon, to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure the Department of Education and return education authority to the States."
The remaining department funds cannot "promote DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), nor gender ideology."
Trump has repeatedly called for eliminating the Department of Education, calling it a "big con." He proposed its closure during his first presidency, but Congress took no action. Republicans have long sought to reduce the department's funding and influence.
McMahon promised that federal funding for schools allocated by Congress to help low-income districts and students will continue. Student loans and codified services for disabled children are to be maintained.
Trump admitted last month that he would need the support of Congress, which will decide on funding and backing from teachers' unions.
Accusations of promoting profit-driven education
Proponents of keeping the department argue that it is essential to maintain high standards of public education. They accuse Republicans of promoting profit-driven education and point out that immediately closing the department could disrupt the provision of tens of billions of dollars in financial aid to educational institutions from kindergarten to 12th grade and funding for college tuition.
The Department of Education oversees about 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools in the United States, although over 85% of public school funding comes from state and local governments.
Reuters reports that the Department of Education provides federal grants for schools and programmes, salaries for teachers working with children with special needs, funding for arts programmes, and replacing outdated infrastructure. It also oversees the expenditure of approximately £1.3 trillion on student loans.
