President says he ordered the Education Secretary to facilitate closure of the Department of Education

True

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directive

An order has been issued directing the Secretary of Education to take steps to facilitate closure of the Department of Education.

Source summary

President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation designating January 25–31, 2026 as National School Choice Week and outlined his administration’s priorities to expand school choice. The proclamation cites the One Big Beautiful Bill, which it says creates a nationwide tax-credit scholarship program and establishes a "Trump Account" to expand 529 usage to K–12. It also notes an Executive Order directing the Department of Education to issue guidance for states on using federal funding for K–12 scholarships, prioritize school-choice grants, and a directive to facilitate closure of the Department of Education, while announcing plans to cut federal support for programs tied to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

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Latest fact check

The White House proclamation for National School Choice Week (Jan. 28, 2026) contains the sentence “I have also ordered the Secretary of Education to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education,” showing the President did issue that order (White House). Federal law shows the Department of Education was created by statute (Department of Education Organization Act, Pub. L. 96-88, codified at 20 U.S.C. ch. 48) and legal analysis (Brookings) notes a president cannot unilaterally abolish a department without Congress. Verdict: True — the President did order the Secretary to facilitate closure (per the official proclamation), but that order alone cannot legally abolish the Department of Education without congressional action.

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Timeline

Update · Jan 29, 2026, 09:37 AMTrue
The White House proclamation for National School Choice Week (Jan. 28, 2026) contains the sentence “I have also ordered the Secretary of Education to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education,” showing the President did issue that order (White House). Federal law shows the Department of Education was created by statute (Department of Education Organization Act, Pub. L. 96-88, codified at 20 U.S.C. ch. 48) and legal analysis (Brookings) notes a president cannot unilaterally abolish a department without Congress. Verdict: True — the President did order the Secretary to facilitate closure (per the official proclamation), but that order alone cannot legally abolish the Department of Education without congressional action.
Original article · Jan 28, 2026
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