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AMNA NAWAZ: Welcome 
to the "News Hour."

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President Donald Trump 
made good on a pledge today 
to try to eliminate the

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federal Department of 
Education, which was created 
more than four decades ago.

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GEOFF BENNETT: That department 
has been a target of critics for 
nearly as long as it's existed,

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but President Trump and 
other Republicans want to 
go all the way this time,

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calling the department 
wasteful and arguing it 
fails too many students.

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Many educators today argued 
it's critical and provides 
key services that states and

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localities cannot. President 
Trump today signed an

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executive order aimed 
at shutting down the 
Department of Education.

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DONALD TRUMP, President of the 
United States: After 45 years,

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the United States spends 
more money on education by 
far than any other country,

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and spends likewise 
by far more money per 
pupil than any country,

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and it's not even close. But 
yet we rank near the bottom of 
the list in terms of success.

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GEOFF BENNETT: But the 
order might be more of a 
first step than a final

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blow. Congress created the 
department in 1979, and 
the Constitution doesn't

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give the president the 
power to shut it down by 
executive order alone.

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But technicalities haven't 
stopped Trump's agenda so 
far. His goal, he says,

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return education to the 
states and have other 
agencies absorb the 
department's responsibilities.

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DONALD TRUMP: But we're 
going to take care of our 
teachers, and I believe, 
I believe the states will

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take actually better care of 
them than they are -- than they 
are taken care of right now.

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GEOFF BENNETT: The Education 
Department is largely 
responsible for managing federal

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funding, enforcing civil 
rights laws and access for 
students with disabilities,

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and servicing more 
than a trillion dollars 
worth of student loans.

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DONALD TRUMP: If you look 
at the Pell Grants, supposed 
to be a very good program,

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Title I funding and resources 
for children with special 
disabilities and special needs,

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they're going to be preserved 
in full and redistributed to

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various other agencies and 
departments that will take 
very good care of them.

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GEOFF BENNETT: Even if some 
of that work shifts to other 
departments and agencies,

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critics say losing the 
umbrella of the Education 
Department could mean

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the work loses its larger 
mission, ensuring equal 
access for American

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students. Democrats have 
been unified against the 
Trump administration's plan.

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SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): 
And this is why every

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single Democrat said hell no to 
the nomination of Linda McMahon,

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one of the only nominees 
in history tasked with 
destroying the very agency 
she's trying to lead.

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GEOFF BENNETT: States have long 
held the primary responsibility 
for education. There

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is no national curriculum and 
federal money makes up about 
14 percent of public school

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budgets. But that money 
is critical for the most 
vulnerable students,

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like meals for homeless 
students or Title I funding 
for low-income schools.

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SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): 
But for the working-class 
of this country,

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high-quality public education 
is an imperative if their kids 
are going to do well in life.

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GEOFF BENNETT: The 
Trump administration has 
already downsized the 
department's work force

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through terminations and 
buyouts. Firings last 
week left the department 
with roughly half of

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the 4,100 staff it had 
when President Trump took 
office, prompting protests.

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PORTIA ALLEN-KYLE, Interim 
Executive Director, 
Color of Change: I want 
people to know that

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we're fighting. And we may 
not win today. We may not 
-- people may not get their

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jobs back. There are things 
going through the courts. 
But there is momentum. People

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are upset. People are 
energized. And people want 
to see something different.

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GEOFF BENNETT: This afternoon,

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Senator Bill Cassidy, the 
chair of the Senate committee 
overseeing education,

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said he would introduce 
legislation to have Congress 
eliminate the department.

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We should note we reached out to 
the Trump White House to request

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an interview with an official 
on this matter, but did 
not receive a response.