Executive order targets Education Department as Congress holds sole authority

President Trump signed Executive Order 14242 on Mar. 20, 2025, directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the Department of Education established by Congress in 1979.

Trump laid off over 1,300 DOE employees the week before signing the order, effectively halving the department's workforce including critical Federal Student Aid staff managing $1.6 trillion in loan debt.

The order requires congressional approval to fully eliminate the department, needing 60 Senate votes to overcome filibusters, making complete abolition unlikely despite Republican control.

Title I funding for low-income schools ($18 billion annually) and Pell Grants remain protected while 18 smaller programs face consolidation into a $2 billion block grant, cutting specialized funding by 60%.

ICE enforcement returned to schools after the order eliminated sensitive locations policies requiring headquarters approval, forcing educators to choose between protecting students and avoiding federal charges.

The executive order ended the Department of Education Organization Act's statutory requirements while claiming the federal education experiment 'plainly failed' despite constitutional education powers belonging to states.

National Assessment of Educational Progress data cited in the order showed 70% of 8th graders below proficient in reading and 72% below proficient in math, though experts note these scores predate current federal policies.