Democratic Operatives
- Thread starter GURPS
- Start date
He can announce all he wants, but he has not filed any Articles of Impeachment.
The US military has removed photos of the B-29 bomber “Enola Gay” — which dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan — apparently because it contains the word “gay,” which violates their new anti-DEI rules.
Military to Remove 'Enola Gay' Photos for Violating DEI Rules
Based on the information provided in the X posts, trending topics, and related web results, here’s a detailed analysis of whether President Trump can close the U.S. Department of Education (DoE) by executive order:
1. Overview of Trump’s Plan
- President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to issue an executive order to dismantle or significantly reduce the Department of Education, as mentioned in the X posts and confirmed by sources like NPR, BBC, Reuters, and Just Security. The draft order, obtained by NPR, directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education" to the extent permitted by law.
- This move aligns with Trump’s campaign promise and the broader agenda of his administration and allies like Elon Musk, who aim to reduce federal bureaucracy and shift education control back to the states, as noted in the trending topic summary and posts from accounts like
@nicksortor
and
@charliekirk11
.
- Congressional Creation of the DoE: The Department of Education was established by the Department of Education Organization Act (DEOA) of 1979, passed by Congress. According to multiple web sources (e.g., BBC, Just Security, NPR), only Congress has the authority to abolish or fundamentally alter a federal department created by legislation. An executive order cannot unilaterally dissolve the DoE because it lacks the legal power to override statutory law.
- Statutory Responsibilities: Key functions of the DoE, such as administering Title I funding for low-income students, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), federal student loans, Pell Grants, and civil rights enforcement under laws like Title IX, are mandated by Congress through specific statutes. Shifting these responsibilities to other agencies (e.g., Health and Human Services or the Department of Justice) or eliminating them would require legislative changes, not just an executive action (as detailed in Just Security and Reuters).
- Constitutional Limits: The U.S. Constitution vests Congress with the power to create and fund federal agencies (Article I, Section 8). An executive order that attempts to dismantle the DoE without Congressional approval could be challenged as unconstitutional, as it would usurp Congress’s legislative authority. This is a key point in Sen. Bernie Sanders’ criticism, as noted in the target X post, where he calls the move "unconstitutional."
- While Trump cannot legally abolish the DoE through an executive order, he can take certain administrative actions within the limits of existing law:
- Reorganize Internal Operations: The president can direct the DoE to reorganize its offices, reduce staff, or scale back certain programs, as long as these actions don’t violate statutory mandates. For example, the draft order mentions winding down the department, but NPR notes it acknowledges that only Congress can fully eliminate it.
- Cut Funding or Programs: Trump could attempt to defund or scale back discretionary programs within the DoE, though mandatory spending (e.g., student loans, Pell Grants) is controlled by Congress. However, any significant cuts would still require Congressional approval for the budget (as per Reuters and NPR).
- Shift Focus or Policy: The administration could prioritize or deprioritize certain initiatives, such as ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs or reducing federal oversight of schools, as mentioned in the Reuters article about recent cuts to teacher training funding.
- However, these actions would face legal scrutiny if they interfere with Congressionally mandated programs or violate federal laws protecting students’ rights.
- Congressional Opposition: House and Senate Republicans have previously failed to pass legislation to abolish the DoE, with some Republicans joining Democrats to vote against such measures (BBC). With narrow Republican majorities in both chambers, passing legislation to dismantle the DoE is unlikely, especially given bipartisan support for programs like IDEA and Title I (NPR).
- Public Opinion: An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll cited in the NPR article shows 63% of Americans oppose closing the DoE, which could create political pressure against the move.
- Legal Challenges: Any executive order attempting to bypass Congress could face immediate legal challenges from advocacy groups, states, or Congress itself, potentially leading to court injunctions or rulings against the order (Just Security, BBC).
- The target post from @SenateDems, featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders, argues that Trump and Musk’s plan to dismantle the DoE is "unconstitutional," "terrible public policy," and "morally reprehensible," citing potential cuts to funding for millions of American families to benefit billionaires with tax breaks. Sanders’ criticism reflects concerns about the loss of federal oversight, funding for low-income and disabled students, and the concentration of power in states with varying resources.
- Replies to the post show a polarized response: some support dismantling the DoE, arguing it’s a "bloated" or ineffective federal agency (e.g., @Jody10Lion, @dogeai_gov), while others echo Sanders’ concerns about the impact on education equity and local control (e.g.,
@LittledogsBite).
6. Conclusion
- Can Trump close the DoE by executive order? No, he cannot legally dismantle the Department of Education through an executive order alone. The DoE was created by Congress, and only Congress can abolish it or fundamentally alter its structure and responsibilities. Any executive action would be limited to administrative reorganizations, funding shifts, or policy changes within existing legal boundaries, but these would likely face legal and political resistance.
- Implications: Trump’s executive order, if issued, would likely initiate a process to wind down the DoE or shift its functions, but it would not achieve a full closure without Congressional approval. This could lead to prolonged legal battles, disruptions in education funding and services, and heightened political debate, as highlighted in the X posts and web results.
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BOP
Well-Known Member
Execute all traitors.
I keep thinking about all the teachers who paid for supplies out of their own pockets, just so the kids had supplies.
BOP
Well-Known Member
Aren't "openly Nazis and fascists" a little more...open?
ICE detained a U.S. citizen in Northern Virginia with guns drawn. He offered to show ID and told the officers he was an American citizen, but they handcuffed him anyway. The man is a Trump voter, but says he is reconsidering his support after he was targeted for being Hispanic:
BOP
Well-Known Member
Any job that the vast majority of women have to do is absolutely the "hardest job in the world." Example: motherhood.
BOP
Well-Known Member
Geebuz...Blumenthal is so late to that party, that the cleaning crew has already begun.