On March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the closure of the Department of Education to the extent permitted by law. The Order, “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities,” aims to deemphasize federal authority over education in favor of state and local control.
The Order specifically directs the Secretary of Education to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.” The Order also provides that, to the extent the Department of Education continues to disburse federal funds, the Secretary of Education shall insure that the funding recipient “terminate illegal discrimination obscured under the label ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology.”
LCW will provide updates regarding the implementation of the Order.