The US president signed the Executive Decree that aims to dismantle, an initiative that satisfies the American Right, which sees in schools a field of combating progressive ideas.
“We will remove it,” Trump said, shortly before signing the text, to the White House. “We will close it as soon as possible,” he added, surrounded by students and teachers.
What does this mean for education
With this decision, educational policy will pass almost exclusively to the states and local councils. of the ministry, the US president said. Congress is required for his closure, but Republicans do not have the 60 votes required for this in the Senate.
“Quite simply, we will return education to the states, where it belongs,” Trump added.
Last week, the ministry had announced that it would dismiss almost half of its staff.
The signature ceremony were present Republican rulers, such as Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron Dessandis of Florida, as well as representatives of the conservative organization “Moms for Freedom”.
The Ministry of Education and the funding
The Ministry of Education oversees about 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools in the US, but over 85% of public school funding comes from state and elementary authorities. It also provides federal resources for special schools and programs, such as money for teachers’ salaries for children with disabilities, funding artistic studies and ensures the replacement of obsolete equipment.
Prior to the ceremony, White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt cited the frustrating level of alphabetism and the low -score of students’ tests to justify the closure of the ministry.
Trump has admitted that he will need the support of his MPs and educational associations to abolish the ministry. For the time being, it does not have it.
“We will say it in the courts,” commented the head of the US Teachers’ Federation, Randy Wakerten.
Democratic Senator Patti Murray said in her statement: “Donald Trump is well aware that he cannot abolish the Ministry of Education without Congress. But he understands that if you dismiss all staff and dissolution into pieces, you may have a similar, devastating effect. “
