Trump is absolutely serious and Democrats can’t believe it.
President Trump reaffirmed his commitment to shutting down the Department of Education, calling it a “massive con job” during a recent meeting in the Oval Office. He emphasized the importance of dismantling this bloated agency, criticizing its ineffectiveness in improving the American education system, which ranks 40th globally while spending more than most nations on a per-student basis. “We’re number one in cost per pupil, but our education system is failing,” Trump stated, making it clear that reform was needed, not more federal oversight.
Trump has consistently argued that education should be returned to state and local control, rather than being dictated from Washington, D.C. He reiterated his belief that education policy is best decided by states like Iowa, Idaho, and Colorado, where local communities have a direct stake in their children’s futures. His administration is working on an executive order to strip the Department of Education of many of its current functions. The order would also include a push for Congress to pass legislation to fully dissolve the department, which was originally established during the Carter administration in the 1970s.
Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, has already been tasked with reviewing the Department of Education for waste and inefficiencies, similar to the work he did at the U.S. Agency for International Development. Musk is expected to propose deep cuts and reforms that would help streamline the federal government and reduce unnecessary spending.
Trump’s position on education has been clear throughout his presidency. He has repeatedly criticized the federal government’s overreach in shaping curriculum, particularly accusing it of promoting liberal ideologies that do not align with the values of everyday Americans. At a rally last year, Trump pledged to “drain the government education swamp” and put an end to the abuse of taxpayer dollars used to push political agendas in schools. His approach is rooted in his belief that local control is essential for improving educational outcomes and ensuring that children are not indoctrinated with ideas that contradict the beliefs of their families.