White House: ‘Critical functions’ will stay under Department of Education

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said all the critical functions of the Department of Education will remain, ahead of President Trump signing an executive order to dismantle the federal agency.  

“The Department of Education will be much smaller than it is today. As you know, the president’s executive order directed Linda McMahon to greatly minimize the agency. So, when it comes to student loans and Pell Grants, those will still be run out of the Department of Education,” she told reporters at the White House, referring to McMahon, the Education secretary.  

“The great responsibility of educating our nation’s students will return to the states. Any critical functions of the department … will remain,” Leavitt added. 

The remarks come ahead of Trump signing an executive order Thursday directing McMahon to dismantle the department as much as she legally can. 

Certain programs under the Education Department are congressionally mandated, such as Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and are required to be implemented. 

However, other programs not in statute can be eliminated by the secretary.  

Leavitt’s comment comes as the president said he wants the department completely eliminated, but that would require an act of Congress, which is unlikely to happen, since 60 votes would be needed in the Senate.

Republicans hope McMahon will be able to move congressionally mandated programs to other federal agencies, such as the Civil Rights Office and the Department of Justice.