What is the Department of Education - and can Trump dismantle it?

The US president is expected to order a shutdown of the department, which he has already cut back.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersWhat does the US education department do - and can Trump dismantle it?4 hours agoShareSaveAna FaguyBBC News, Washington DCShareSaveGetty ImagesUS President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order demanding the shutdown of the Department of Education - a long-held goal of conservatives.

Since the Republican returned to the White House, the department has already announced plans to slash about half of its workforce.

A total shutdown would usually require an act of Congress.

Established in 1979, the department oversees funding for public schools, administers student loans and runs programmes that help low-income students.

Trump and his allies have accused the agency of "indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual and political material".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79zxzj90nno

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