US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education, fulfilling a long-standing conservative goal and a key campaign promise.

The Republican leader, while signing the order at a White House event on Thursday, accused the department of “breath-taking failures” and vowed to shift its funding and responsibilities to individual states.

“We’re going to shut it down as quickly as possible,” Trump said, though the White House acknowledged that a complete closure of the agency would require congressional approval.

The move, which comes amid widespread criticism, is expected to face legal challenges. Several groups have already announced plans to contest the executive order in court, particularly over planned staff reductions and cuts to key education programmes.

Conservative push, legal hurdles

Trump’s decision is seen as a major step in the decades-old Republican push to eliminate the Department of Education, which was established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter. Conservative leaders, including former President Ronald Reagan, had long advocated for its abolition.

The department plays a critical role in administering student loans and funding programmes that support low-income students. However, Trump and his allies have repeatedly claimed it promotes political agendas and bureaucratic inefficiencies.

At the signing ceremony, the president praised Education Secretary Linda McMahon and expressed hope that she would be the last person to hold the position. "We’ll find something else for her to do," he remarked.

Following the announcement, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said he would introduce legislation to formally dissolve the department. However, with the Senate split 53-47 in favour of Republicans, passing such a bill would require bipartisan support, making it a challenging prospect.

Funding cuts and future implications

Even if a formal shutdown is blocked, the administration is expected to drastically reduce the department’s funding and staff. Earlier this week, the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which oversees federal spending, announced that 2,100 employees would be placed on leave starting Friday.

The agency also manages federal student loans, which millions of Americans rely on to finance higher education. Experts have warned that dismantling the department could lead to significant disruptions in student loan services and funding for special education and low-income students.

Criticism from educators and unions

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from education advocates, with America’s largest teachers’ union, the American Federation of Teachers, condemning the move.

“No one likes bureaucracy, and everyone wants efficiency, but don’t use a ‘war on woke’ to target children in poverty and those with disabilities,” the union said in a statement.

Trump has previously argued that the department’s role in education should be scaled back, citing what he claims is excessive federal interference in local schooling. However, most US schools are already run by state and local governments, with federal funding accounting for only about 13% of total education spending.

An uncertain path forward

The text of the executive order does not specify which programmes will be eliminated or transferred to other departments, but it instructs McMahon to “take all necessary steps” to facilitate the department’s closure.

Analysts suggest that, even if the agency is not officially shut down, its core functions could be transferred to other government offices, such as the Department of Treasury.

While the long-term impact remains unclear, critics warn that the move could weaken federal oversight of education standards and financial aid, potentially affecting millions of students nationwide.

Despite the backlash, Trump’s allies have framed the decision as a step towards decentralizing education policy. “This is our opportunity to perform one final, unforgettable public service,” McMahon wrote in a memo to staff, signaling her commitment to the administration’s plan.