Trump Moves to Dismantle Education Department via Executive Action

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon confirmed that the department is entering into partnerships with the departments of Health and Human Services, the Interior, Labor, and State. Administration officials described the shift as a proof of concept strategy intended to demonstrate to Congress how the agency can be effectively disassembled. While the department cannot be fully shuttered without legislative approval, the White House is pushing forward to the maximum extent permitted by executive authority.

National Education Association president Becky Pringle condemned the timing of the announcement, which coincided with American Education Week. She and American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten argued that dispersing services across various agencies will create administrative chaos and deepen barriers for families. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) labeled the action a lawless attempt to fulfill the goals of Project 2025, noting that the administration is ignoring the constitutional separation of powers because it cannot secure approval from its own party in Congress. Advocacy groups including Public Citizen and Protect Borrowers echoed these concerns, warning that the restructuring will leave critical student support systems fragmented and ineffective.