The federal Education Department has long been a target of criticism from Republicans. The president is exploring ways to change the agency, though abolishing it would take an act of Congress.:
Zachary SchermeleJoey Garrison
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is considering steps to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, with potential executive action coming as early as this month.
A White House official told USA TODAY that Trump plans to fulfill a campaign promise by reevaluating the future of the agency. That effort includes defunding it, according to Reuters. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly pledged to completely close the department, which has been around for decades and administers billions of dollars to schools each year.
Trump does not have the authority to abolish the agency by executive order. But experts told USA TODAY he might still direct the secretary of education to come up with plans to weaken its functions.