Trump’s Week: Education Overhaul, Judicial Clash, and International Diplomacy
Former President Donald Trump has had an eventful week, marked by significant policy announcements, confrontations with the judiciary, and diplomatic engagements on the international stage. Key among his actions was a renewed push to dismantle the Department of Education, a move that has sparked both support and criticism.
Trump initiated steps to restructure the nation’s education system, asserting that the current approach is failing American students. He signed an executive order aimed at shifting educational authority back to the states, a decision that aligns with his long-held belief in localized control. "We’re not doing well with the world of education in this country, and we haven’t for a long time," Trump declared, emphasizing the need for a radical change in the educational landscape.
The White House released a fact sheet detailing the executive order’s objectives, stating that it seeks to "turn over education to families instead of bureaucracies." The order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "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."
Trump reassured the public that vital programs such as Pell Grants, student loans, and special needs resources would continue under different agencies. "They’re going to be preserved in full and redistributed to various other agencies and departments that will take very good care of them," he stated, aiming to allay concerns about the potential disruption of these essential services.
Supporters of dismantling the Department of Education have cited the "Nation’s Report Card," the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), as evidence of the system’s shortcomings. The report revealed stagnant math scores for eighth graders and declining reading scores for both fourth and eighth graders. Trump argued that decentralizing education would allow states like Texas to emulate the success of countries like Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. He acknowledged that some states might lag behind, but pledged to "work with them" to improve their educational outcomes.
However, such a significant change to the structure of a department requires Congressional approval. The US Constitution dictates that any measure to close down a federal agency needs to be approved by the legislative branch, something that will likely be heavily debated.
Adding to the week’s controversies, Trump called for the impeachment of Judge James Boasberg of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. This action followed Boasberg’s order halting the deportation of migrants allegedly associated with the Tren de Aragua gang under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The law allows for the deportation of citizens of an enemy nation without a hearing.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Boasberg’s order, asserting that it lacked a "lawful basis" since it was issued after the flights had already left U.S. airspace. Trump’s call for impeachment drew a sharp rebuke from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who issued a rare statement defending the judiciary’s independence. "It has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision," Roberts stated, underscoring the importance of respecting the separation of powers.
Boasberg’s order is one of several injunctions issued against the Trump administration, blocking various executive orders he’s signed since taking office in January. The White House has accused judges of behaving as partisan activists to stop Trump’s agenda.
"I would like to point out that the judges in this country are acting erroneously," Leavitt said in a Wednesday news briefing. "We have judges who are acting as partisan activists from the bench."
In other news, Trump announced that Boeing had secured a contract to build the Air Force’s next-generation fighter jet, dubbed the F-47. "I’m thrilled to announce that at my direction the United States Air Force is moving forward with the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet," Trump declared, adding that "nothing in the world comes even close to it."
The Next Generation Air Defense initiative, which the Biden administration had deprioritized, will oversee the project. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that reviving the program "sends a very direct, clear message to our allies that we’re not going anywhere, and to our enemies that we will be able to project power around the globe." Trump claimed that an experimental version of the jet has been covertly flying for years and that the F-47 will be "the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built."
Amid ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, Trump spoke with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week. Following the calls, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a limited ceasefire targeting energy infrastructure. According to the White House, the next step involves technical teams meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss broadening the ceasefire to the Black Sea, with the ultimate goal of achieving a full ceasefire.
"They agreed this could be the first step toward the full end of the war and ensuring security," the White House said in a statement. "President Zelenskyy was grateful for the President’s leadership in this effort and reiterated his willingness to adopt a full ceasefire." These developments mark a potentially significant step towards de-escalation in the region.
