Trump Signs Order to Dismantle Education Department, Governors Support

On March 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, a move supported by Republican governors including Iowa's Kim Reynolds and Texas's Greg Abbott. The order directs the Secretary of Education to take steps to close the department, transferring education authority back to the states. Advocates for the change argue that it will reduce federal bureaucracy and allow states to better allocate resources to improve student outcomes. However, critics, including the Iowa State Education Association and civil rights advocates, warn that this shift could jeopardize funding for essential programs and student protections. Reynolds noted that Iowa is the first state to propose a plan for federal block grant funding tied to student outcomes, while Abbott emphasized that most education funding already comes from state and local sources. The executive order is expected to face legal challenges, as only Congress can officially eliminate a federal agency.