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The Latest: Trump administration targets Education Department for closure

Mar 20, 2025, 5:25 AM

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in...

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

(AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order Thursday calling for the shutdown of the U.S. Education Department, according to a White House official, advancing a campaign promise to eliminate an agency that鈥檚 been a longtime target of conservatives. The Justice Department is resisting a federal judge鈥檚 demand for more information about flights that took deportees to El Salvador, arguing that the court should end its 鈥渃ontinued intrusions鈥 into executive branch authority. A different federal judge allowed Elon Musk鈥檚 Department of Government Efficiency to remain in control of the U.S. Institute of Peace, an independent nonprofit created by Congress. And the Trump administration has suspended approximately $175 million in funding for the University of Pennsylvania over a transgender swimmer who last competed for the school in 2022.

Here’s the latest:

Trump plans executive order to lay groundwork for shutting down Education Department, official says

The White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity before the announcement, said Trump plans to sign the order on Thursday.

Finalizing the elimination of the Department of Education would require an act of Congress.

But a White House fact sheet said the order would direct Education Secretary Linda McMahon 鈥渢o take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure (of) the Department of Education and return education authority to the States, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.鈥

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Associated Press reporter Chris Megerian contributed.

Social Security Administration to require in-person identity checks for new and existing recipients

In an effort to limit fraudulent claims, the Social Security Administration will impose tighter identity-proofing measures 鈥 which will require millions of recipients and applicants to visit agency field offices rather than interact with the agency over the phone.

Beginning March 31st, people will no longer be able to verify their identity to the SSA over the phone and those who cannot properly verify their identity over the agency鈥檚 鈥渕y Social Security鈥 online service, will be required to visit an agency field office in person to complete the verification process, agency leadership told reporters Tuesday.

The change will apply to new Social Security applicants and existing recipients who want to change their direct deposit information.

Retiree advocates warn that the change will negatively impact older Americans in rural areas, including those with disabilities, mobility limitations, those who live far from SSA offices and have limited internet access.

鈻 Read more about changes being made to social security

Maine found in violation of Title IX over transgender athletes after Trump clashed with governor

Maine鈥檚 education office is being ordered to ban transgender athletes from girls鈥 and women鈥檚 sports or face federal prosecution, an escalation in Trump鈥檚 threats to pull federal money from states and schools over transgender athletes.

The Education Department on Wednesday said an investigation concluded Maine鈥檚 education office violated the Title IX antidiscrimination law by allowing transgender girls to compete on girls鈥 sports teams and use girls鈥 facilities. It鈥檚 giving Maine 10 days to comply with a list of demands or face Justice Department prosecution.

The federal investigation was opened Feb. 21, just hours after Trump and the state鈥檚 Democratic governor, Janet Mills, clashed over the issue at a meeting of governors at the White House. During the heated exchange, Mills told the Republican president, 鈥淲e鈥檒l see you in court.鈥

鈻 Read more about the investigation into Maine鈥檚 Department of Education

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The Latest: Trump administration targets Education Department for closure