Fact Check: Trump's administration aims to shut down the U.S. Department of Education.

Published July 15, 2025

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VERDICT

Partially True

# Fact Check: "Trump's administration aims to shut down the U.S. Department of Education." ## What We Know During President Trump's administration, t...

Fact Check: "Trump's administration aims to shut down the U.S. Department of Education."

What We Know

During President Trump's administration, there were significant moves to reduce the federal government's role in education, including a push to "return education to the states." Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated that the administration's actions aimed to "free future generations of American students" and emphasized that "education is fundamentally a state responsibility" (source-1). This included plans to close the Department of Education, although McMahon clarified that this would not mean cutting off funds for essential programs (source-1).

Moreover, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to proceed with significant layoffs within the Department of Education, which would effectively "gut" the department, reducing its workforce by more than half (source-2). This decision was framed as a victory for the administration's efforts to curtail the federal government's role in education (source-2).

Analysis

The claim that Trump's administration aimed to shut down the U.S. Department of Education is partially true. The administration did pursue policies that would significantly diminish the department's influence and operational capacity. The executive order and subsequent actions indicated a clear intent to transfer control of education back to state governments, which could be interpreted as a step towards dismantling the federal education framework (source-1).

However, it is important to note that the administration's representatives, including McMahon, insisted that while they aimed to reduce the department's size and influence, they would continue to support essential programs for students (source-1). This suggests that the goal was not to eliminate the department entirely but to reshape its role significantly.

The Supreme Court's ruling to allow mass layoffs further illustrates the administration's commitment to reducing the department's operational capacity. Critics, including dissenting justices, argued that such actions could lead to severe consequences for students and civil rights protections in education (source-2). This highlights the contentious nature of the administration's approach and the potential for negative impacts on educational equity and access.

Conclusion

The claim that Trump's administration aimed to shut down the U.S. Department of Education is Partially True. While there were clear efforts to diminish the department's role and size, the administration also maintained that it would continue to support essential educational programs. Thus, the intent to "shut down" the department is more accurately described as an effort to fundamentally alter its structure and responsibilities rather than a complete dissolution.

Sources

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