President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order to abolish the United States Department of Education.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the order might come as soon as Thursday, according to people familiar with the matter, whom it did not name.
The White House and the department did not immediately respond to requests for comment late on Wednesday.
Trump has repeatedly called for eliminating the department, calling it a “big con job.” He proposed shutting it during his first term in office as President, but Congress did not act.
Republicans have long sought to reduce the Department of Education’s funding and influence.
Linda McMahon, Trump’s education secretary, was confirmed by the Senate on Monday and supported the plan to abolish the agency.
Defenders of the department argued that it was essential to maintain high standards in public education and they accused Republicans of promoting for-profit education.
An immediate closure of the department could disrupt tens of billions of dollars in aid for K-12 schools and tuition assistance for college students.
Last month, Trump said he wanted the department to be closed immediately but acknowledged that he would need buy-ins from Congress, which determines its funding, and teachers’ unions.
McMahon told Senators that unwinding the department would require congressional action and repeatedly promised the federal school funding appropriated by Congress to assist low-income school districts and students would continue.
However, abolishing the Department of Education would be his first shutdown of a cabinet-level agency.
The department oversees some 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools in the United States, although more than 85% of public school funding comes from state and local governments.
Instead, it provides federal grants for needy schools and programs, including money to pay teachers of children with special needs, fund arts programs and replace outdated infrastructure.
It also oversees the $1.6 trillion in student loans held by tens of millions of Americans who cannot afford to pay for university outright.
Under President Joe Biden, Trump specifically criticised the Department of Education for its student loan forgiveness initiatives and policies concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes.
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