President Trump Signs Executive Order to Eliminate Department of Education

On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education [ED] and return authority over education to the States and local communities” to the extent allowable by law. The long-anticipated EO makes good on a campaign promise to close ED. However, it also acknowledges that ED cannot be fully closed without an act of Congress. Immediately following the signing of the EO, Education Secretary McMahon issued a statement in response to the EO by reasserting that education is fundamentally the responsibility of the States and offering an assurance that funds “will continue to support K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs.” CEC strongly opposes this move, as our members implement the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and rely on the federal Department of Education for a full suite of services and support to ensure infants, toddlers, children, and youth are well served. ED ensures that infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment and supports personnel, families, and training and technical assistance as delineated through IDEA. Nearly 20,000 CEC members and colleagues have joined CEC by articulating to Congress their opposition to closing ED because of the harm it poses to infants, toddlers, children, and youth. Add your voice today.

Read the Executive Order here.

Read the Secretary’s press release here