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.
Finland and Sweden deployed fighter aircraft on Thursday after a group of Russian military planes was detected over the Gulf of Finland, the Finnis...
Twelve Kazakh military personnel died after being swept out to sea during a naval training exercise in the western Mangistau region, authorities sa...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ...
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained low on Thursday, as Iran reiterated that it will neither enter into new negotiations with the United States nor re-open the Strait as long as its conditions are not met, despite recent indirect talks in New York mediated by Qatar.
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meeting in New York, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Thursday with ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring six, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
The 81st UN General Assembly has wrapped up its third day in New York on Thursday, with world leaders delivering high-level speeches and holding diplomatic meetings.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan will hold an urgent high-level meeting under a joint defence pact to discuss ways to support the kingdom amid attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis. The meeting comes as Tehran seeks to distance itself from the rapid advance of its Houthi allies.
Finland and Sweden deployed fighter aircraft on Thursday after a group of Russian military planes was detected over the Gulf of Finland, the Finnish Air Force reported on Friday (25 September).
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 25 September 2026, with five key developments from the third day of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Xi Jinping touched down at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday evening to a welcome that was fairly unprecedented. President Donald Trump was there on the tarmac to greet him personally, which is something no sitting U.S. president had done for a visiting foreign leader in six decades.
The U.S. Senate narrowly rejected a resolution on Thursday that would have required President Donald Trump to end the war in Iran or seek congressional authorisation, as Democrats sought to put Republicans on the record over the increasingly unpopular conflict ahead of November's midterm elections.
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday, 24 September, for talks focused on trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and the war with Iran.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment