Trump signs order to disband US Education Department
What's the story
United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to "begin eliminating" the Department of Education.
"We're going to shut it down as quickly as possible," Trump, who was flanked by schoolchildren, said during the signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House.
He said "the US spends more money on education by far than any other country," yet students rank near the bottom of the list in terms of success.
Directive issued
Trump's order to Education Secretary
Trump's executive order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure....and return education authority to...States."
It also directs her to ensure "the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely."
The White House, however, admitted that completely closing the agency would require an act of Congress.
The move is already facing legal challenges from individuals seeking to stop the dissolution, as well as substantial staff cuts announced last week.
Rationale explained
Trump's justification for the executive order
Justifying his decision, Trump said that it does more harm than good and should be returned to states. "It's doing us no good... We're going to return education back to the states where it belongs."
The president also said that it will save money, and bring the educational standards in America, which he says are falling behind Europe and China, back up.
Funding concerns
The Education Department's funding and federal role
Historically, the US government has played a limited role in education. Just about 13% of primary and secondary school funding comes from federal sources.
However, federal funding is important for low-income schools and students with special needs.
The White House earlier said a smaller education department would likely survive to handle "critical functions," including loans and some grants for low-income students.