^{The Bottom Line} President Trump Signs Executive Order to Dismantle Department of Education

Making good on his campaign promise, President Trump has taken historic action to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Last Thursday, the President signed the “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities” executive order into law.

The order directs the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, “to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the States while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”

According to the associated White House Fact Sheet, the executive order returns “power over education to families instead of bureaucracies.” This is a much-needed change for our country because, over the past 45 years, the U.S. Department of Education has spent over $3 trillion with “virtually nothing to show for it,” as outlined in an article put out by the White House the same day that the President signed the executive order.

The order received glowing and immediate praise from Republican governors, Congress members, state superintendents, and national leaders in public policy.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds explained, “Education decisions should be made by those who know students best—parents, teachers, and local communities. Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump and @EDSecMcMahon, for your leadership and commitment to education freedom. It was an honor to attend today’s historic signing – Iowa stands ready!”

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said, “For many decades, the federal Department of Education has failed our students, families, and teachers. Education is best administered by parents and teachers and those closest to students, not bureaucrats in Washington, DC. President Trump is keeping his promise and returning education to the states.”

American First Policy Institute Chair Erika Donalds commented, “President Trump’s bold action to return control of education to states and local communities marks a pivotal moment for American families…By eliminating federal overreach in education, we can foster an environment where innovation thrives, parents have greater choice, and students receive the high-quality education they deserve. This move will allow states to tailor educational approaches to their unique needs, free from one-size-fits-all federal mandates, and voters can hold their state and local elected officials accountable for the resulting academic outcomes.”

The White House also included my remarks on its website: 

While this executive order was unveiled last week, this has been a long time coming. Strategic thought by the best and the brightest has gone into the plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The plan will ensure that students are well-served while improving the efficiency and effectiveness of services by moving some to other federal agencies. At the same time, the vast majority of K-12 education will be returned to the States.

Big government control of education has failed students. Student learning has not improved during the four-plus decades of the department’s existence. Getting education back to the states will increase accountability for student learning results, aid in the better use of funds, and provide a bigger voice for moms and dads in their children’s education.

The one-size-fits-all government-run, teacher union-controlled system does not work. Bringing in the element of choice to empower parents is essential. The free market principle of competition will increase quality, drive down costs, and spur innovation—all of which are desperately needed in K-12 education.

It was a great day for our nation as President Trump continued to take steps toward empowering parents, getting the red tape out of the way, and now mandating the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education.

Click HERE to listen to Dr. Keri D. Ingraham’s interview on NTD News Today, or watch below.