Elon Musk Submit Warning to the Department of Education

Elon Musk has said that President Donald Trump will “succeed” in closing the Department of Education.

The billionaire made the comments on his social media platform x in response to a report in Washington Post That said, Trump was preparing an executive order to dismantle the department.

Newsweek Has contacted the White House, Department of Education and Musk for Comment via E email.

Why it matters

There have been growing speculation about what actions Trump would take with the Department of Education after returning to the office in January.

He fought for a promise to close the federal ward and said that the power of the agency should be transferred to states and schools.

The reported executive order comes when Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge, has launched a mistaken effort to cut programs, brand federal workers and cutting government expenses. In recent days, the Trump administration and Musk have moved to eradicate the US Agency for International Development, which is responsible for the administration of civilian foreign aid and development aid around the world.

What to know

“Reagan struggled to end Federal Dept of Education, which was created by Carter in 1979, but it was bigger when Reagan left the office than when he started!” Musk wrote in a post on his social media platform x Monday night.

“Not this time. President @RealDonaldTrump will succeed.”

The draft executive order that Trump is preparing acknowledges that only Congress can close the Institute of Education, then instruct the Agency to start reducing its staff and functions, Post reported and quoted three people informed about it.

The newspaper also reported that about 20 people with DOGE have begun to work inside the department in an attempt to cut down on expenses and staff numbers with reference to three people who are familiar with the situation and the posts.

The Wall Street Journal Reported that the order weighed would close features that have not been explicitly written in the statute or move some to other departments. The newspaper citing sources that are familiar with the case said the order would call for a regulatory proposal to abolish the department.

An official in the White House confirmed to Post That it is preparing for performing actions later in February that would fulfill Trump’s promise to reject the department.

Dozens of employees at the department have been put on paid administrative leave, Associated Press reportedWith reference to the Workers’ Union American Federation of Government staff Local 252, representing hundreds of workers in the agency.

At least 55 employees received an E email on Friday and said they were put on leave due to Trump’s executive order that prohibited diversity, justice and inclusion programs in the federal government, the AP reported. However, Sheria Smith, president of the American Federation of Government -staff Local 252 said that most of the employees who are on leave do not work in DEI initiatives and span all branches of the agency.

Trump told Time Magazine in December that he planned a “virtual closure” by the Department of Education.

When asked to elaborate, he said, “Well, you need some people just to make sure they teach English in schools … but we will move education back to the states.”

What people say

Texas Governor Greg AbbottAt A Republican, responded to reports of the executive order of x, writing: “This is excellent. Do it. Remove the Department of Education and send the funds to the States.”

Representative Judy ChuAt A Democrat from California wrote on X that Trump administration is: “Already prepared plans to use USAID PLAYBOOK to close @ususgov.

Student Loaner Protection CenterAt A nonprofit, wrote on x: “They started with USAID. Now they are heading towards @ususgov and are trying to run the agency within and have now gained access to personal information about millions of students and borrowers. No one chose Elon Musk & Hans Doge -they must have stopped. “

What is the next

It is not clear exactly when the Trump administration could take performing actions regarding the Department of Education, but legal challenges are likely to follow.