Washington, D.C. — Over the week, United States President Donald Trump has expressed plans on shutting down the state’s Department of Education, describing the agency as wasteful of the country’s resources.
On Thursday, Trump formally signed an executive order aiming at dismantling the U.S. education Department.
“We’re going to be returning education, very simply, back to the states where it belongs. We’re going to shut it down as quickly as possible,” Trump said.
During the signing ceremony, Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the agency’s performance, putting the blame of the lagging academic performance of America to the department.
The order also assigns the education secretary to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities” at all costs.
Even before the executive order was signed, the administration had already put pressure on the agency, with its workforce being slashed in half.
The White House, however, clarified that the dismantling order will grant the retain of the critical functions of the agency.
The administration noted that while it ordered the agency’s closure, it will also preserve the department’s responsibilities to the state, including funding for low-income schools, Pell grants and money for children with disabilities.
Following this, groups that have long called for the abolishment of the department celebrated the said move.
These groups cited that the agency is making taxpayers fund a failing system that allegedly upholds leftist indoctrination over academic excellence.
Meanwhile, advocates for public schools have decried the measure, raising concern over an unequal education system as a result.
While the complete closure of the agency is still unlikely without the Congress acting on the scene, Republicans are now eyeing to introduce related legislation.