President Donald Trump is planning to issue an executive order, possibly this Thursday, that aims to eliminate the United States Department of Education, according to a report.
The draft order instructs the new Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education" within the possible legal limits.
The order argues that the experiment of controlling American education through federal programs and funds has failed, negatively affecting the country's children, teachers, and families.
McMahon, who recently assumed the position, expressed her full support for Trump's plan to eliminate the department. She assured that education will be sent back to the states, and emphasized that the president believes the bureaucracy in Washington must be eliminated to return control to the state level.
In her letter to the Democratic members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, McMahon reaffirmed her commitment to this approach.
According to her letter, under her leadership, the department will be guided by three principles: parents are the primary responsible for their children's education, tax-funded education should focus on meaningful learning in subjects like math, reading, science, and history (and not on divisive diversity, equity, and inclusion programs), and higher education should be aligned with labor market needs to offer well-paying careers.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the Department of Education, pointing out that despite spending more per student than any other country, the United States ranks 40th in international education rankings.
During his campaign, he mentioned that he wanted to eliminate the agency and considered a "virtual closure" of the department. Over the years, Trump has reiterated that federal control of education has been a "fraud" and that the money spent on education hasn't produced adequate results.
