In a move that's sparking outrage among education advocates, President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at shutting down the US Department of Education. The order, issued yesterday, mandates that Secretary of Education Linda McMahon "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education," while ensuring that Americans continue to receive "uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits." Additionally, the order directs the federal government to withhold funding from schools refusing to align with the Trump Administration's political ideology.
Senators from the Minnesota Senate's Education Committee were swift to publicly denounce the President's actions. In a statement obtained by the Senate DFL, the committee chairs and vice chairs said, "By effectively closing the Department – decimating its capacity to enforce civil rights protections, fund special education and support underfunded schools – Donald Trump and Elon Musk send students the message that their education does not matter." They continued to criticize the move as an authoritarian attempt to degrade Minnesota's efforts in furthering public education and to play favorites with states that embrace exclusionary educational policies.
This is not the first instance of President Trump targeting public education. Prior efforts to incapacitate the Department of Education include mass layoffs that occurred on March 12, disposing of over 1,300 public servants. Moreover, Trump has signed executive orders that threaten to reroute funds from public schools to voucher systems, as well as attempt to revise American history curriculum in schools across the nation.
The Department of Education, since its inception in 1979, has played a critical role in supporting American students—particularly those in underserved communities. It has been instrumental in enforcing civil rights laws in educational settings, administering student loans, supporting special education, and aiding schools in low-income areas. Minnesota senators, in response to the order, outlined their proactive measures such as the Universal School Meals program and the North Star Promise, which aims to provide tuition-free education at state universities and colleges. "In Minnesota, we are working hard to make sure every student has access to a free, high-quality education," the statement from the Senate DFL read. They pledged continued opposition to the Administration's agenda, which they believe only serves to harm the nation's most vulnerable students.
