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President Donald Trump has signed a highly anticipated executive decree which, according to him, is designed to close the United States Ministry of Education.
The order that Trump signed on Thursday The Secretary of Education Linda McMahon says to “take all the measures necessary to facilitate the closure of the Ministry of Education and the return authority on education in states and local communities” to the “appropriate maximum measure and authorized by law”. At the same time, the prescription indicates that McMahon should guarantee “the effective and uninterrupted service of services, programs and advantages on which Americans count”.
Despite probe the oppositeTrump said in his speech on Thursday that The closure of the department is a popular idea This would save money and help American students catch up with other countries. He also said that his order would guarantee that other federal agencies take care of the main programs now hosted in the education department, such as those of low -income backgrounds and disabled students.
“Beyond these main necessities, my administration will take all legal measures to close the department,” said Trump. “We will stop and stop it as quickly as possible. It doesn't do us good. We want to return our students to the United States. “
The decree represents a symbolic achievement for Trump, who for years expressed the desire to close the department. However, the president has already radically transformed the department without counting on such an order. McMahon announced layoffs and massive buyouts earlier this month This has reduced the staff of the department almost in two.
Beyond rhetoric, it is not clear how exactly the order will have an impact on the work or existence of the ministry.
By law, Only the congress can eliminate an agency at the level of the firm authorized by the Congress; The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt The Department of Education will become “much smaller.“And during his remarks on Thursday, Trump expressed his hope that the Democrats as well as the Republicans” would vote “for the closure of the department, although eminent Democratic legislators have exploded the idea.
The order does not directly modify the annual budget of the Ministry of Congress. And the federal law dictates many of the main functions of the Department of Education – being approved by Congress which could be very difficult to obtain.
However, Trump's decision to considerably reduce the department staff could have an impact on their capacity and productivity, even if officially, its functions remain in place.
During her confirmation hearing, McMahon promised to work with the Congress On a reorganization plan. Project 2025, a leading plan for conservative governance of the Heritage Foundation published before Trump's second term, says that with Closing of the Department of EducationThe federal government is expected to move the application of civil rights from the Ministry to the Ministry of Justice, while the collection of education data should move to the US Census Bureau.
In a statement on Thursday, McMahon said that the closure of the education department does not mean cutting the funds of those who depend on it.
“We will continue to support students from kindergarten to 12th year, students with special needs, students' borrowers and others who are on essential programs,” she wrote. “We will follow the law and eliminate bureaucracy in a responsible manner by working with the Congress and the Heads of State to ensure a legal and orderly transition.”
The Executive Decree could be challenged before the court. Many Trump efforts to redo the federal bureaucracy are already linked to disputes, Including the layoffs of the Department of Education.
The executive decree notes that the Department of Education does not indicate any student and points to Low results of tests on an important national assessment As proof that federal expenses do not help students.
“The closure of the Ministry of Education would provide children and their families the possibility of escaping a system that fails them,” said order.
Trump's order is triumph for the enemies of the department
The Republican governors of Florida, Texas, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana, Tennessee, Idaho and Nebraska were present at the signature ceremony. Trump said they wanted “badly” that the federal government will give their states more control over education.
“The cost will probably be half, and education may be several times better,” said Trump. Says that “goes very, very well,” he said, could have education systems as good as those of Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway-countries that tend to outperform the United States on international reading and mathematics tests.
The Department of Education administers billions of dollars of federal aid through programs such as title I, which benefits schools on high pause, and the law on the education of disabled people, or the idea, which compensates for the cost of special education services.
The Department also administers financial assistance for students, sharing information on best practices with academic states and districts and applies civil rights laws. And he oversees the system of school responsibility, which identifies poorly efficient persistent schools for additional support.
States and school districts already take most educational decisions, from the remuneration of teachers to the choice of programs.
The Conservatives wanted to get rid of the United States Ministry of Education since it was created by President Jimmy Carter and the Congress in 1979, and Trump spoke of doing so in his first administration. But these efforts have never gained ground.
Conservatives say that for decades, the ministry has failed to adequately approach the low academic performance. They also consider the department as generally hostile to their political and ideological perspectives.
The decree indicates that McMahon must ensure that “any program or activity receiving federal assistance puts an end to illegal discrimination masked by the label” diversity, equity and inclusion “or similar terms and programs favoring gender ideology”, a reference to policies intended to make schools more welcoming for colored students and LGBTQ students.
The department has moved To publicly target and eliminate diversity practices in schools in recent weeks. And the department has already threatened to retain federal funding Maine for having allowed Trans athletes to compete in teams that correspond to their gender identity.
Defenders of public education say Critical expertise will be lost And Student civil rights will not be protected If Trump further decreases the department. They also fear that a recast of the ministry can endanger billions of federal funds which strengthen state education budgets and local.
They say they already see impacts of dismissals, which have struck the Office of Civil Rights, Federal Aid to Students and the Institute of Education Sciences particularly harshly.
Even before McMahon takes office, the US Doge Service, the cost reduction initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk, canceled Hundreds of millions of dollars in research and contract subsidies.
The Department of Education was already one of the smallest departments at the office, with around 4,100 employees, before layoffs. With buyouts and layoffs, the ministry now employs just under 2,200 people.
Chalk is a non -profit information site covering educational change in public schools.
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