In a bold move, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Thursday aimed at shutting down the Department of Education, as revealed in a fact sheet from the White House.


During a scheduled event at the White House, Trump will direct Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the States." The administration emphasizes the importance of continuing the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits that Americans depend on.


Recent data from the administration indicates that when Trump took office, the Department of Education had 4,133 employees. Since then, nearly 600 workers have either resigned or retired, and just last week, 1,300 employees were informed they would be laid off due to a reduction-in-force initiative. This leaves the department with approximately 2,183 staff, roughly half of what it had just weeks ago.


The Department of Education was established by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 following the bipartisan passage of the Department of Education Organization Act. 


In a decisive move, McMahon has taken steps to significantly reduce the department's size by cutting its workforce in half, viewing these job terminations as the initial phase toward the impending shutdown. 


"That was the president’s mandate," McMahon stated in a recent interview with Fox News. "His directive to me is clear: to shut down the Department of Education. We know we’ll have to collaborate with Congress to achieve this goal."


At her Senate confirmation hearing, McMahon reiterated her commitment to working alongside Congress in support of Trump's initiative to dismantle the department. She indicated in an internal email to employees earlier this month that significant changes are on the horizon.


“Our job is to respect the will of the American people and the President they elected, who has tasked us with accomplishing the elimination of bureaucratic bloat here at the Department of Education, a momentous final mission, quickly and responsibly,” she wrote, as reported by NBC News.


McMahon was confirmed by the Senate in a narrow 51-45 vote, with no Democrats supporting her nomination. 


Stay tuned for further updates as this situation develops.