 "US education department Musk-led Doge's next target? Trump mulls new order: Report")
The Donald Trump administration is reportedly mulling to shut down the US education department, in line with billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to rein in federal spending. The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources, that officials from Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge) are planning to dismantle key elements of the education department and shift some functions to other departments.
According to the report, an executive order is still in the works that would enable developing a legislative proposal to abolish the department. Trump’s advisers are still working out details of the order and debating specifics and timings, the report said.
Dozens of employees put on leave
The report comes days after dozens of education department employees were locked out from their official communication network on Friday (Jan 31) and were placed on leaves.
An email sent to the employees read that they were put on ‘administrative leave’ following Trump’s order banning DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programmes in federal government.
Fulfilling an electoral promise
During his campaign trail ahead of the presidential elections last year, Trump vowed to eliminate the education department which he claimed had been infiltrated by “radicals, zealots and Marxists”.
However, the US president doesn’t have the authority to shut down a federal department on his own and requires a greenlight from Congress.
Before Trump took office in January, his transition team had already prepared an executive order to proceed with the elimination and coordinate with Congress to give its nod, according to the WSJ report.
Meanwhile, Trump’s pick to lead the education department, former WWE executive Linda McMahon, is yet to receive confirmation from the Senate.
The Guardian quoted an education department spokesperson as saying that officials from Doge on Monday (February 3) were working to implement Trump’s executive orders and agenda.
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