U.S. President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Thursday aiming to dismantle the Department of Education, fulfilling a key campaign promise, according to a White House summary seen by Reuters.
he move faces immediate legal opposition, with Democratic state attorneys general filing a lawsuit to block the closure and halt layoffs of nearly half the department’s workforce. Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk have previously attempted to cut government programs without congressional approval, but this marks Trump’s first bid to eliminate a cabinet-level agency.
Trump cannot close the department without congressional approval. While Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, abolishing a cabinet agency requires 60 votes, making Democratic support necessary—something they have not indicated they will provide.
The order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take steps to close the department and return education control to the states while ensuring services continue. It also stipulates that any remaining education funds must not support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or gender ideology.
Defenders of the department warn that shutting it down could disrupt funding for K-12 schools and student tuition assistance. The department oversees 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools, handling federal grants for low-income districts, special needs programs, and student loans.
McMahon, recently confirmed by the Senate, supports Trump’s plan but assured that federal school funding approved by Congress will continue. Student loans and disability services are legally protected and will remain operational.
Attorneys general from 20 states and Washington, D.C., have sued in federal court, arguing that mass layoffs—over 1,300 jobs—would cripple the department’s ability to fulfill its legal duties. The lawsuit contends that McMahon lacks authority to eliminate or transfer statutory functions without congressional approval.
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The UN's International Maritime Organization has paused escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship was reportedly attacked near Oman, with two U.S. officials accusing Iran of the attack.
The United Nations' top human rights official has called for independent investigations into deaths in U.S. immigration detention facilities, citing a rise in fatalities among people held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are believed to be trapped under rubble, as emergency crews and international rescue teams race to respond.
An aircraft roughly the size of a car crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday evening, triggering a major emergency response and a heavy police presence as authorities sealed off the area and gave no immediate explanation for the incident.
An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck Japan's northeast coast on Thursday, but no tsunami warning was issued, no injuries were immediately reported and no irregularities were found at nuclear facilities, the authorities said.
As Western Europe battles a deadly heatwave that has shattered temperature records, disrupted transport and power supplies, and forced the closure of schools and cultural landmarks, attention is turning to whether El Niño is playing a role in the extreme conditions.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorised military action.
The Kremlin has denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming Moscow is pressuring Belarus to support an expanded Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are believed to be trapped under rubble, as emergency crews and international rescue teams race to respond.
The United Nations' top human rights official has called for independent investigations into deaths in U.S. immigration detention facilities, citing a rise in fatalities among people held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
An aircraft roughly the size of a car crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday evening, triggering a major emergency response and a heavy police presence as authorities sealed off the area and gave no immediate explanation for the incident.
Montenegrin police, working alongside the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation, have arrested an Iranian national accused of carrying out a series of cyberattacks that allegedly caused an estimated $3.4 billion in damage to U.S. infrastructure.
South Korea is set to dramatically expand its unmanned warfare capabilities, with plans to integrate drones across all branches of its military as tensions with North Korea continue to shape the country's defence strategy.
Fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have begun to recover following an interim U.S.–Iran agreement aimed at stabilising the waterway after months of disruption during conflict, industry data shows.
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