Update: President Trump Signs Order To Begin Dismantling Education Department

On Thursday, March 20, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to initiate the dismantling of the Department of Education.

The executive order calls on the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.”

The order also orders the Secretary of Education to ensure the use of Department of Education funds complies with Federal law and Administration policy, “including the requirement that any program or activity receiving Federal assistance terminate illegal discrimination obscured under the label ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI) or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology.”

Before signing the executive order, Trump stated that responsibilities of the Department of Education, including Pell Grants, Title I funding, and resources for children with disabilities and special needs, would be “fully preserved” and “redistributed to various other agencies and departments.”

Established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, the Department of Education provides federal Pell Grants to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need.Fifteen percent of UChicago students and over 30 percent of students nationwide receive Pell Grants.

The Department of Education also oversees the federal student loan program and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which UChicago’s financial aid office uses to assess eligibility for University grants and Federal Work-Study.

Beyond financial aid, the agency enforces civil rights protections by withholding federal assistance from noncompliant programs or institutions, including private universities like UChicago that receive federal funding for research and other activities.