U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order as early as Thursday, instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the department she now leads, according to U.S. media reports.
A draft of the order, cited by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, directs McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department” to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Trump, 78, has long advocated for decentralizing education, vowing during his campaign to transfer control from the federal government to state authorities.
While the department—established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter—can only be abolished through congressional approval requiring 60 Senate votes, Trump’s administration could significantly weaken its operations through budget cuts and staffing reductions.
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, teachers’ unions, and parents, who view it as a direct threat to public education.
McMahon, a 76-year-old business executive and former WWE CEO, argued during a recent Senate hearing that excessive federal oversight harms education.
“The solution is simple: Fund education freedom, not bureaucracy,” she stated.
According to The Washington Post, McMahon and other officials are exploring ways to transfer some of the department’s responsibilities to other agencies, though such moves could face legal challenges.