Executive Summary
- The Trump administration is reportedly moving functions from several Department of Education offices to other federal agencies as part of a broader effort to dismantle the agency.
- The restructuring, expected to be announced today, November 18, 2025, will impact at least five key offices: Civil Rights, Indian Education, Elementary and Secondary Education, Postsecondary Education, and Special Education.
- Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is facilitating this “piecemeal dismantling” by reassigning personnel, an approach that allows changes without requiring full congressional approval to eliminate the department entirely, a goal President Trump has pursued since March.
The Story So Far
- The Trump administration’s reported move to transfer functions from the Department of Education to other federal agencies is a direct continuation of President Trump’s long-standing goal to dismantle the agency, an intent he formalized with an executive order in March. This strategy, led by Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, aims for a piecemeal restructuring by relocating personnel and functions, thereby allowing the administration to scale back the department’s scope without requiring full congressional approval for its complete elimination.
Why This Matters
- The Trump administration’s move to transfer functions from key Department of Education offices, including Civil Rights and Special Education, to other federal agencies signals a significant reduction in federal oversight and potentially weakens protections for vulnerable student populations. This “piecemeal dismantling” allows the administration to fundamentally reshape the department’s role in education without requiring full congressional approval to abolish the agency, setting a precedent for executive power in agency restructuring.
Who Thinks What?
- The Trump administration, led by President Trump and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, is actively moving functions and personnel from the Department of Education to other federal agencies as part of a broader effort to dismantle the agency and reduce its size and scope.
- A congressional aide notes that Secretary McMahon’s strategy of sending personnel to other agencies allows for a piecemeal dismantling of the Department of Education without requiring full congressional approval to eliminate the department entirely.
The Trump administration is reportedly moving functions from several offices within the Department of Education to other federal agencies. This move, expected to be announced today, November 18, 2025, is part of a broader effort to dismantle the agency, a goal President Trump has pursued since signing an executive order in March.
Department Restructuring
The changes are anticipated to be formally announced at an all-hands staff meeting at the department this afternoon. This development was initially reported by the Washington Post.
According to two sources familiar with the matter, the restructuring will impact at least five key offices: the Office for Civil Rights, the Office of Indian Education, the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Office of Postsecondary Education, and the Office of Special Education.
Secretary McMahon’s Role
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon appeared to confirm impending changes on Tuesday, posting a video on social media featuring quotes from Republican politicians since 1980 advocating for the department’s dismantling. Her accompanying text read, “The clock is ticking…”
A congressional aide indicated that the process involves sending personnel to other agencies, with the Department of Education retaining some oversight and leadership. This approach allows McMahon to proceed with a piecemeal dismantling without requiring full congressional approval to eliminate the department entirely, a power she has acknowledged rests solely with Congress.
Background and Intent
President Trump signed an executive order in March to reduce the size and scope of the Education Department, signaling his administration’s intent to scale back the agency’s functions. The current moves are seen as a direct continuation of that effort.
