Austin, Texas – On Thursday afternoon, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin demolition of the Department of Education.
The order directs Education Secretary, Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps” to make the closure come into effect. The executive order begins the downsizing process rather than eliminating the Department of Education. It requires council approval to get rid of it.
In the meantime, many Texas leaders have praised this step along the way.
“President Trump is willing to do something that perhaps other presidents aren’t trying to do. This is looking into some of these vast bureaucrats,” Sen. John Cornyn said.
Senator Cornyn was in Austin on Thursday and spoke with small business owners about expanding Trump’s tax cuts. After reaching the back of the counter at Wally’s Burger Express in Northwest Austin, he told CBS Austin that this would prevent the federal government from imposing a “wake-up” requirement on local school districts.
“We’re infiltrating the role of parents in determining what children learn in the local school curriculum. I don’t think we’ll miss the federal department of education,” Senator Cornyn said.
Gov. Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Col. Dan Patrick, and Attorney General Ken Paxton were in the White House to sign the executive order. Lt. Colonel Governor posted several photos to X, saying, “I would like to thank President Trump for returning his education decisions to the states and communities they belong to.”
More reactions came from Rep. Lloyd Dogget. Austin Democrats issued the statement after signing the letter.
“Austin Public Schools Products As a father and grandfather of myself and a successful AISD student, we know that our public schools are worth bringing to our community. Our public schools are crucial to both personal opportunities and continued economic advancement. Helping education.”
The Ministry of Education will be smaller, but will continue to oversee student loans, Pell grants and carry out other important functions.
