Dismantling of Education Department Is Underway, Drawing Legal Challenges

The Trump administration is on track for sweeping changes to public education within the first 100 days of its second term, but legal challenges await.

U.S. Department of Education building in Washington on July 6, 2023.Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

President Donald Trump has yet to issue an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education or work with Congress to do so, but the process of dismantling the smallest Cabinet-level agency is well underway.

Already half of the staff has been cut, along with $1 billion in contracts related to the department’s Education Sciences agency and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training. Department offices outside of Washington will eventually be closed to save additional money over time.