Trump blasts Department of Education as ‘con job,’ says he wants it closed ‘immediately’

President Donald Trump recently made headlines by calling the Department of Education a “con job,” citing a report that ranked the nation 40th in the world in education but first in cost per pupil. In a press conference from the Oval Office, Trump expressed his desire to see the DOE closed immediately, criticizing the department for its lackluster performance in comparison to the high amount of money spent per student.

Trump highlighted the fact that the U.S. had dropped from 38th to 40th place in global education rankings, while countries like China were ranking in the top five. He emphasized that this discrepancy was a cause for concern, especially given China’s status as a primary competitor.

To address the issue of wasteful spending, Trump enlisted the help of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, to identify areas where budget cuts could be made. As a result, $881 million in funding related to 89 DOE contracts was slashed, with $101 million specifically earmarked for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training programs.

These DEI programs included teaching educators about oppression, privilege, and power dynamics, which Musk deemed as unnecessary and a mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. In line with his efforts to reform the education system, Trump recently signed executive orders targeting critical race theory (CRT) in schools and promoting school choice.

The controversial teaching of CRT and other divisive content in schools has sparked backlash from parents and communities nationwide. Trump’s administration has been actively working to address these concerns, with a focus on improving academic performance and eliminating inappropriate content from school curriculums.

In addition to his executive orders, there have been reports suggesting that the Trump administration is considering dismantling the U.S. Department of Education altogether. As discussions around education reform continue, it is clear that significant changes are on the horizon for the nation’s education system.

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