The Trump administration is taking steps to reduce the influence of the Department of Education, moving toward a major restructuring that could shift more control to states. President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order directing the agency to begin limiting its operations.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been actively involved in reviewing the department’s budget and operations. Some members of the group have reportedly gained access to internal systems to assess areas for potential cuts.
While fully eliminating the department would require congressional approval, the administration is focused on scaling back its authority. The executive order is expected to reassign some responsibilities to state governments, aligning with Trump’s long-held position that education policy should be handled at the local level.
House Education Committee Chairman Tim Walberg of Michigan has acknowledged that fully shutting down the department would be difficult. A Republican-led effort to eliminate the agency failed in 2023, making it unlikely that Congress would approve such a measure. Instead, lawmakers are looking at ways to limit the department’s power.
The timing of the executive order remains uncertain. Some officials have suggested that the administration may wait until Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon is confirmed before moving forward with additional steps.
This move is part of a broader effort to cut down on federal bureaucracy. Other government agencies are also being reviewed for potential reductions as the Trump administration works to limit spending and return power to state and local governments.
