CT LEADERS REACT TO TRUMP'S SIGNING OF THE ORDER TO ELIMINATE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

President Donald J. Trump shows the signed executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, directing Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to carry out the move.

“We're going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible,” Trump said. “We're not doing well with the world of education in this country, and we haven't for a long time.”

A History of Controversy

The U.S. Department of Education has long been a subject of debate. In an interview for Harvard University, Professor Martin West noted that the department was created as part of Jimmy Carter's strategy to win the 1980 presidential election, fulfilling a campaign promise to the National Education Association. 

However, it faced resistance in Congress during Carter's first term. Previously, education programs were scattered across multiple agencies, and the aim was to improve coordination and efficiency by consolidating them.

“We want to return our students to the states where just some of the governors here are so happy about this,” Trump said. “They want education to come back to them, to come back to the States, and they're going to do a phenomenal job.”


State Reactions and Pushback

Shortly after the order was signed, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issued a statement opposing the move to dismantle the department.

“At a time when other nations are expanding their commitment to education to build a stronger, more competitive workforce, we must ensure that our schools have the resources they need to prepare students for the future,” Lamont said.

A recent study shows Connecticut ranking second nationwide for public schools, placing second in quality and 19th in safety. The state invests approximately $18,958 per student, among the highest per-pupil expenditures in the country.


Trump on Teachers

While the department’s elimination moves forward, Trump reassured the public about teachers.

“Teachers, to me, are among the most important people in this country, and we're going to take care of our teachers, and I don't care if they're in the union or not in the union. That doesn't matter,” Trump said.

Department's Budget and Global Performance

The U.S. Department of Education, led by Secretary Miguel Cardona, employed over 4,000 staff members in 2021, making it the smallest Cabinet agency. Its budget grew from $14 billion in 1979 to $268 billion in 2024, representing about 4% of total federal spending by 2025.

However, under the Biden administration, education results fell short.  A 2024 Pew Research study highlighted that U.S. students are falling behind their peers in other wealthy nations, especially in math.

Trump acknowledged that while the department allocated more funds to education, U.S. students' academic performance still lags behind.

“70% of eighth graders are not proficient in either reading or in math, 40% of fourth graders lack even basic reading skills. Can't read,” Trump said. “Students in our public elementary and middle schools score worse in reading today than when the department opened by a lot in Baltimore. 40% of the high schools have zero students who can do basic mathematics, not even the very simplest of mathematics.”

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong condemned the executive order.

“This is a reckless assault on our kids and schools across America. On funding for special education. For teachers. For school buses. For college financial aid,” Tong said.

Last week, Attorney General Tong and a coalition of 20 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s plan to eliminate more than half of the Department of Education’s workforce, arguing it would weaken and dismantle the agency.

Jessica Sager, CEO of All Our Kin, a national organization focused on home-based child care, expressed concern about the impact of the order.

“We are gravely concerned that this Executive Order could foster a short-sighted plan with long-term consequences, one that could leave an entire generation of children academically underprepared and hanging in the balance,” Sager said. “The role of the D.O.E. is to give each and every child a chance. Today’s executive order is cruel.”

Trump assured that key functions of the department, including Pell Grants, Title I funding, and resources for children with disabilities, will remain intact.

“They're going to be preserved in full and redistributed to various other agencies and departments that will take very good care of them,” Trump said.

However, Sager expressed doubts about the future of these services.

“While President Trump stated that funding for these programs will remain intact, concerning questions about continuity, implementation of services, and equitable access remain,” Sager said.

In response to President Trump's new executive order, the Connecticut State Department of Education issued a statement regarding the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education.


“The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) recognizes the significant national discussion surrounding the future of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). While we understand that many families, educators, and community members have concerns about what this could mean for students, we want to reassure the public that, at this time, ED has stated they will continue to deliver on all statutory programs under their purview and, to date, the CSDE has not experienced any interruptions in funding for any ED programs that the CSDE administers."

(This story has been updated with the latest statement from the Connecticut State Department of Education.)