President Donald Trump has signed an executive order ordering the dismantling of the Department of Education.
It comes after the department's announcement last week that it would lay off nearly half of its staff.
Trump has said he wants Education Secretary Linda McMahon to put herself out of a job.
However, Congress would have to pass legislation to shutter the department completely, and Trump does not have the votes to do that.
President Donald Trump shows his signature on an executive order to shut down the Department of Education
Reuters
US President Donald Trump with the order next to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon
Reuters
Speaking ahead of the signing, President Trump said: "We're going to shut it down as quickly as possible...It's doing us no good."
He added: "I don’t care if they’re in the union or not in the union, but we’re going to take care of our teachers...we’re going to love and cherish our teachers along with our children."
More to follow...