Trump & Musk Dismantling the Department of Education Next?

The battle to drain the swamp continues. President Donald Trump, alongside tech mogul Elon Musk’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is targeting the Department of Education, with plans to potentially dismantle the agency through executive actions.

Sources close to the Trump administration tell The Wall Street Journal that top officials are contemplating a bold executive order that would strip the Education Department of many of its powers, transferring critical functions to other departments. Unnecessary parts of the agency, those not explicitly authorized by law, could be shut down. In addition, Trump’s team is considering pushing for a legislative proposal to eliminate the department entirely.

A White House insider confirmed to the Daily Beast that the Education Department is on the chopping block. While the specifics are still in flux, the wheels are in motion.

The move would fulfill a long-standing goal of Trump and his conservative allies. Throughout his reelection campaign, Trump made it clear he wanted to dissolve the Education Department, leaving educational control in the hands of states. This idea, he argued, would better serve American children and stop federal overreach. Trump has repeatedly pledged to dismantle federal agencies and return power to local governments.

One of his first actions as president in 2025 was an executive order aimed at eliminating what he called “radical, anti-American ideologies” from K-12 schools, signaling his commitment to reforming the educational system.

“I’ve been saying it for years,” Trump declared in a statement after signing the order. “We’ll make sure our schools teach American values again, not left-wing propaganda.”

However, the road to shutting down the Education Department isn’t without obstacles. The Senate is still reviewing the ethics paperwork for Linda McMahon, Trump’s nominee for Education Secretary, causing delays. Sources suggest that Trump’s team may wait to announce any executive orders until after McMahon’s confirmation.

The Education Department is just one of many agencies in Musk’s crosshairs. Known for his no-nonsense approach to government inefficiency, Musk’s DOGE initiative aims to streamline federal operations and cut down on waste. Musk has already targeted agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, which he has accused of misappropriating funds, though his claims have yet to be fully substantiated.

“These agencies are bloated,” Musk said in a recent interview. “We have to stop throwing taxpayer money into the black hole of government.”

Yet, the Education Department poses a unique challenge. In Trump’s first term, he attempted to merge the Education and Labor departments, but was blocked by Congress. The current razor-thin Republican majority in the House and Senate will make it even harder to pass the necessary legislation to eliminate the agency.

Even so, Trump and Musk are undeterred. “This is just the beginning,” Trump told supporters at a rally in Ohio. “We will continue to drain the swamp, one agency at a time.”

The stakes couldn’t be higher. With national education standards at a crossroads, Trump’s push to return control to states has ignited fierce debates. Conservatives hail the move as a return to common-sense policies, while critics warn that eliminating the department could lead to an education system rife with inequality.

As the battle rages on, Trump and Musk are clearly united in their mission to reshape the federal government—one agency at a time.

Is this the bold reform America needs, or a step too far? Only time will tell.