US President Donald Trump is set to sign a new set of executive orders on Tuesday amid reports that he will begin efforts to dismantle the federal education department, fulfilling a key campaign pledge.
While Trump cannot abolish the department without congressional approval, which remains unlikely, US media reported that he would issue orders to undermine it from within.
The White House confirmed that Trump would be signing new executive orders but did not specify their content.
The reports follow a broader shake-up of the federal government led by Elon Musk, whose “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) has been scrutinising education department data. On Monday, Musk’s efforts resulted in the effective closure of the USAID humanitarian aid agency.
Musk referenced the developments on his social media platform X, suggesting that while former president Ronald Reagan failed to abolish the department in the 1980s, “President @realDonaldTrump will succeed.”
During the 2024 election campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to eliminate the department, shifting control over education to individual states. He has long criticised the department’s spending and claimed that US schools are too liberal, despite global rankings showing declining educational standards.
Last week, Trump signed several executive orders addressing controversial education issues, including race, gender, and campus protests.
He has nominated former WWE CEO Linda McMahon to lead the department, a move widely seen as a step toward downgrading its influence. In a memorable staged wrestling match, Trump once body-slammed her husband, Vince McMahon, and shaved his head on live television.