Joined by children seated at school desks, President Trump holds up the signed executive order to reduce the size and scope of the Education Department on March 20 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Management of special needs and nutrition programs, as well as student loans, will move from the Department of Education to other federal agencies, President Trump said on Friday.
Why it matters: Trump is delegating the Department of Education’s responsibilities the day after signing an executive order aimed at shutting it down.
- The Small Business Administration will take over student loans, and the Department of Health and Human Services will oversee special needs and nutrition programs moving forward, Trump said in the White House.
Context: Trump’s Thursday executive order directed 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 order also said she should ensure the continued delivery of crucial services and programs.
- Shuttering the Department of Education, which enforces protections for students with disabilities, would require an act of Congress.
Zoom out: The news comes as the Small Business Administration also said it would reduce its workforce by 43%, or about 2,700 people, in an “agency-wide reorganization.”
- The Department of Education manages about $1.5 trillion in student debt for more than 40 million borrowers. Trump has already blocked student loan forgiveness and repayment plans.
Go deeper: What dismantling Education Department means for student loans
Editor’s note: This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
