Trump’s Executive Order is NOT Going to Eliminate Department of Education
As President Trump seeks to dismantle or significantly reduce the scope of the Department of Education, complete elimination of the bureaucracy is not legally feasible, especially given that the Department was created by an act of Congress rather than by executive order. Though the Department is seeing a Reduction in Force (RIF) under Trump, a full dismantling is more than just unlikely.
Jim Renacci, a former U.S. Congressman and a staunch advocate for limited government, provides insightful commentary on whether the president can accomplish this task through executive action or if Congress must be involved.
Renacci is uniquely qualified to discuss the complex interplay between executive power and congressional authority, particularly when it comes to reshaping major federal agencies. He understands the constitutional limitations of executive orders and the legislative process, having worked firsthand in Congress and having seen the balance of powers in action.
Renacci will explain why, despite the Trump administration’s desire to dismantle or scale back the Department of Education, is a much bigger challenge than it may appear. The Department of Education was created by the Department of Education Organization Act (Public Law 96-88) signed into law by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, and thus its existence is a product of Congress, not the executive branch. As Renacci will emphasize, while executive orders can influence agency operations or certain policies, they cannot abolish or eliminate an agency established by congressional law.
Renacci’s expert insight provides a balanced perspective on what is possible within the framework of U.S. government and what steps would be needed to implement such significant changes. This commentary will clarify the legal and political realities of attempting to dismantle the Department of Education.
Relevant Article(s):
Why was the Education Department created, and what if it closes? | AP News
Trump to Sign Order to Eliminate Department of Education | The Epoch Times
What to know about the U.S. Department of Education
OPTIONAL Q&A
- Jim, President Trump has expressed a desire to dismantle the Department of Education. Given that the department was created by an act of Congress, can the president legally achieve this goal through an executive order?
- You’ve had experience in Congress—how do you view the relationship between executive orders and congressional acts when it comes to reshaping federal agencies like the Department of Education?
- What are the constitutional limitations when it comes to the executive branch attempting to dismantle an agency established by Congress? Can executive orders overrule congressional laws?
- If President Trump or any future president wants to scale back or eliminate the Department of Education, what steps would need to be taken in Congress to make that happen?
- Do you believe there is bipartisan support in Congress for reducing the role of the federal government in education, or would such a move face strong opposition?
- Given the current political landscape, what are some potential roadblocks that Congress might face in trying to restructure or eliminate the Department of Education?
- If the Department of Education were to be dismantled, what alternative models or structures would you recommend ensuring effective education policy at the state and local levels?
- What impact do you think dismantling the Department of Education would have on the future of education policy in the U.S., particularly in terms of funding and regulatory oversight?
Visit Jim’s Website at https://jimrenacci.com/
ABOUT JIM RENACCI…
In 2010, Jim filed to run for U.S. Congress in Ohio’s 16th Congressional District, taking on a well-funded Democratic incumbent. Jim won the election by 9 percent.
While in Congress, Jim earned a reputation for being a principled conservative and effective legislator. He quickly rose through the ranks to serve on the Committee on Financial Services, as vice-chair of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, and as a member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. After just two years, Jim was named to the powerful Ways and Means Committees and Budget Committees.
Not only did the blue-collar entrepreneur realize his own dream, but Jim also became the answer to countless Ohioans. As can only happen in America, the Ohioan entrepreneur soon laid claim to operate over 60 businesses, creating 1,500 new jobs, employing over 3,000 people statewide.
But politics had other plans. In 2009, the Obama Administration took over General Motors, shuttering dealerships across the country— including Jim’s in Northeast Ohio. Shutting down Jim’s dealership killed 50 good-paying jobs in his community — and Jim wasn’t going to stand by while neighbors were going hungry. How could Washington blatantly interfere in the everyday lives of hard-working Americans who wanted nothing more but their own chance at the American Dream?
Jim’s track record as a blue-collar entrepreneur demonstrates his only allegiance has ever been to the very people who D.C. bureaucrats forcibly unemployed that fateful day in an Ohio car dealership — the everyday Americans forgotten by the Swamp. He represents the people’s hopes and fears, bringing actionable results back to the working people who gave him a voice.
CONTACT: Todd Baumann of Special Guests Publicity
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