The Trump administration has started the process of formulating an executive order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.

Sources familiar with the plan indicate that the proposed order would instruct the Secretary of Education to create a plan for reducing the department through executive measures.

Moreover, the president anticipates seeking Congressional legislation to officially abolish the department, as its dissolution necessitates legislative consent.

President Trump has indicated that he wants his Secretary of Education nominee, Linda McMahon, to effectively 'make herself redundant' by scaling back the department’s functions.

McMahon, who has previously led the Small Business Administration, has not yet participated in her confirmation hearing for the position.

The idea of eliminating or merging the Education Department has been a persistent topic, though past attempts have not garnered Congressional backing.

During Trump’s initial term, his administration sought to consolidate the Education and Labor Departments into a single body, a proposal that did not progress despite Republican dominance in both Congressional chambers.

Additionally, the Department of Government Efficiency, overseen by Elon Musk, is also focusing on the Education Department as part of wider efforts to reform the federal workforce.

The Trump administration has already placed several Education Department employees on paid administrative leave, particularly those involved with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives.

Trump, who has consistently criticized the federal government's involvement in education, particularly regarding taxpayer funds for public schools, contends that education spending in the U.S. is disproportionately high when compared to educational outcomes.

He advocates for increased local control over schools, asserting that states should manage their own educational systems.

Even if the Education Department is ultimately dissolved, it is likely that certain educational programs and funding could be taken over by other federal entities.

Before the department’s establishment in 1979, educational programs were administered by a variety of different agencies.

Federal funding initiatives for K-12 education, including assistance for low-income students and children with disabilities, existed prior to the department's creation.

Historically, efforts to cut the Education Department’s budget have encountered strong opposition in Congress, with lawmakers frequently augmenting funding beyond what the president requested.

An analysis from the Brookings Institution revealed that Congress rejected presidential budget cuts to the department about 71% of the time.