Donald Trump can’t believe it. This news is going to greatly shift momentum for his presidency.
And Trump’s jaw dropped when this game-changing report hit his desk.
A recent poll reveals that President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE) has ignited a closely contested debate among U.S. voters. According to a Rasmussen Reports survey, 51 percent of likely voters back the decision, with 37 percent expressing that they “strongly approve.” Meanwhile, 47 percent oppose the move, including 35 percent who “strongly disapprove.”
The DOE, established in 1979 during President Jimmy Carter’s administration, aimed to bolster the nation’s schools. Yet, opinions on its impact remain split. The survey shows 41 percent of respondents believe the department has improved education, while an equal 41 percent argue it has not.
Another 13 percent feel it has had little effect. Support for Trump’s order aligns closely with these views: 76 percent of those who see the DOE as beneficial disapprove of its elimination, while 83 percent of those who view it as a hindrance support the shutdown.
Partisan divides are stark. The Rasmussen report notes that opinions about the DOE and its potential dissolution are “largely divided along party lines.” Among Democrats, 62 percent credit the department with improving schools, while 57 percent of Republicans say it has worsened them.
Unaffiliated voters lean slightly toward skepticism, with 44 percent saying the DOE has harmed education, 33 percent seeing improvement, and 17 percent noticing minimal impact.
Approval of Trump’s order follows suit: 78 percent of Republicans endorse it, while 73 percent of Democrats oppose it. Unaffiliated voters are evenly split, with 48 percent on each side.
Trump campaigned on a promise to dissolve the DOE, arguing it would return control to states, communities, and parents. On March 20, he signed the executive order to begin this process, appointing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to oversee the department’s wind-down.
BREAKING: President Donald J. Trump signs an executive order to officially begin the process of closing the Department of Education. pic.twitter.com/A652ZCudOS
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 20, 2025
The White House has sharply criticized the DOE’s track record, stating it has spent over $3 trillion “with virtually nothing to show for it.” It highlighted a 245 percent rise in per-pupil spending since the department’s creation, yet no significant gains in student performance.
The Nation’s Report Card paints a grim picture: math and reading scores have hit historic lows, with 60 percent of fourth graders and nearly 75 percent of eighth graders lacking math proficiency, and 70 percent of students in both grades falling short in reading. Internationally, U.S. students rank 28th out of 37 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries in math.
While only Congress can formally abolish the DOE, Trump has directed McMahon to streamline operations, even joking that he expects her “to put herself out of a job.” He reiterated this lighthearted jab before signing the order, saying, “hopefully she will be our last secretary of education.”
Trump expressed optimism about bipartisan support, stating, “We’re going to eliminate it, and everybody knows it’s right, and the Democrats know it’s right,” while hoping for Congressional backing.
The administration has already taken bold steps. Before McMahon’s confirmation, the DOE cut nearly $1 billion in grants, slashed funding for diversity and inclusion initiatives, removed over 2,300 webpages deemed unnecessary, and launched probes into policies on racial preferences and gender in school sports.
Post-confirmation, the department announced plans to halve its workforce to reduce bureaucracy. Last week, Senate Republicans introduced a bill to eliminate the DOE entirely, signaling growing momentum.
The Rasmussen survey, conducted from March 30 to April 1 with 1,088 likely U.S. voters, carries a margin of error of ±3 percentage points and a 95 percent confidence level.
As the debate unfolds, Trump’s push to reshape education policy continues to stir passionate reactions across the political spectrum.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
