Summary

Trump has been forced to scale back his plan to shut down the Department of Education completely.

While signing an executive order to begin dismantling the agency, Trump conceded that it will continue operating key functions including student loans, Pell grants, and certain civil rights enforcement.

The White House Press Secretary clarified that the “department will be much smaller” while returning “the great responsibility of education…to the states.”

Democrats and rights activists have condemned the move, with Senator Tina Smith vowing to “fight your illegal behavior.”