President Donald Trump is set to sign a highly anticipated executive order on Thursday, March 20, 2025, to formally begin dismantling the Education Department. This move comes after weeks of gradual staff reductions and budget cuts at the agency.
According to a summary obtained by POLITICO, the executive order will instruct Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary actions to shut down her department and transfer education authority back to the states.
At the same time, the order will require McMahon to ensure the continued delivery of the department’s services, programs, and benefits during the transition.
The Trump administration has already implemented significant staff reductions at the Education Department, affecting hundreds of lawyers, student aid employees, and civil rights office personnel. While the exact wording of the order remains undisclosed, Trump is expected to sign it during an East Room ceremony.
The White House has stated that the order will also mandate that any remaining Education Department-funded programs or activities must not promote diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives or gender ideology.
Several Republican governors, including Greg Abbott (Texas), Mike Braun (Indiana), Ron DeSantis (Florida), Bill Lee (Tennessee), Brad Little (Idaho), Glenn Youngkin (Virginia), Kim Reynolds (Iowa), and Mike DeWine (Ohio), are slated to attend the signing, according to a White House official. Conservative lawmakers and representatives from groups such as Moms for Liberty, the Heritage Foundation, and Concerned Women for America are also expected to be present.
USA Today first reported on the scheduled signing event.
Details of the executive order, including Trump’s specific intentions for signing it, have been fluid for weeks. Some outside White House advisers have questioned whether an executive order is even necessary to eliminate the department, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Two prominent Republican lawmakers have voiced concerns about abolishing the Education Department, signaling potential challenges in securing the 60 Senate votes needed for Trump to fully execute his plan to dismantle the agency.
The White House, Trump’s appointees, and billionaire Elon Musk’s government-reduction efforts have already cut research funding, reduced the agency’s workforce, and targeted diversity programs that have galvanized modern conservative politics.
Further staff cuts are underway this week in anticipation of Trump’s signing ceremony, and the president’s forthcoming budget proposals are expected to propose substantial reductions to the department’s funding.
