Trump Calls for Immediate Closure of Education Department
Washington D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday his desire to close the Department of Education immediately, calling it a “big con job.”
“I’d like it to be closed immediately,” Trump told reporters from the Oval Office. “They ranked the top 40 countries in the world. We’re ranked number 40th. But we’re ranked No. 1 in one department – cost per pupil. So, we spend more per pupil than any other country in the world.”
Trump has previously expressed his intention to shut down the department, aiming to return educational responsibilities to the states as part of his agenda to reduce the size of the federal government.
The Department of Education employs over 4,000 people and spent $251 billion in the most recent year, according to reports. An immediate closure could disrupt tens of billions of dollars in aid to students from kindergarten through high school, as well as tuition assistance for college students.
In the weeks following his inauguration on January 20, Trump has been pushing for major reforms within the federal government. This includes advancing significant workforce reductions and allowing the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, to access key payment systems of multiple agencies.
Trump has also attempted to shut down agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), alleging they are rife with “tremendous fraud” and “unprecedented levels of corruption.”
The proposed closures of both USAID and the Education Department require approval from Congress, setting the stage for potential legislative battles ahead.
