President Donald Trump signed a highly anticipated executive order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, marking a significant step toward fulfilling one of his key campaign pledges.
The move, which has sparked widespread debate, signals what could be the most radical overhaul of federal education oversight in modern history.
Multiple news outlets, including Reuters, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), and the Associated Press (AP), have reported on the development, highlighting its implications and the immediate actions it sets in motion.
According to a Reuters report published at 3:00 AM PDT on March 20, 2025, the White House confirmed that Trump would sign the executive order today, acting on a promise to shutter the Department of Education.
A summary seen by Reuters outlined the administration’s intent to devolve education responsibilities back to the states, aligning with Trump’s long-standing argument that the federal agency has overstepped its authority.
Later that day, at 1:31 PM PDT, Reuters followed up with confirmation that Trump had indeed signed the order, officially initiating the process to dismantle the department.
The Wall Street Journal broke early details of the plan on March 5, 2025, reporting that a draft executive order directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps” to facilitate the agency’s closure.
The WSJ noted that Trump was expected to issue the order as soon as March 6, though the final signing occurred two weeks later on March 20.
The outlet emphasized that, if fully enacted, this would represent an unprecedented shift in how education is managed at the federal level, potentially affecting funding, policy, and oversight for millions of students nationwide.
The White House itself released a statement at 1:57 PM PDT on March 20, celebrating the signing.
“Closing the Department of Education would provide children and their families the opportunity to escape a system that is failing them,” President Trump was quoted as saying.
The administration framed the move as a liberation from bureaucratic overreach, a sentiment echoed in posts found on X, where supporters hailed it as a victory for local control.
However, the transition is already showing signs of disruption. The Associated Press reported on March 11, 2025, that the Department of Education was preparing to lay off over 1,300 employees as part of the wind-down process.
The AP highlighted the human cost of the decision, noting that these layoffs could begin as early as this month, with significant logistical challenges ahead for transferring the department’s responsibilities elsewhere.
The executive order’s announcement has been in the works for weeks, with posts on X reflecting growing anticipation.
On March 5, outlets like BNO News and Mario Nawfal cited WSJ’s initial scoop, while Outbreak Updates described the move as a “radical overhaul,” underscoring its potential to reshape education policy.
Public sentiment on X has been mixed, with some users praising the decentralization effort and others expressing concern over the loss of federal coordination in education.
Critics argue that dismantling the Department of Education, which oversees student loans, special education programs, and Title IX enforcement, could create chaos in an already strained system.
Supporters, however, see it as a return to state autonomy, aligning with Trump’s broader agenda of reducing federal government size. The order’s immediate next steps remain unclear, as legislative approval may be required for a full shutdown—a process that could face significant hurdles in Congress.
