Trump signs executive order to dismantle the Education Department

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to start dismantling the Education Department.

"It sounds strange, doesn’t it? Department of Education. We’re going to eliminate it," Trump said in the East Room of the White House at a ceremony where he was flanked by children seated at school desks. Before he signed the order, Trump turned to the children and asked, “Should I do this?”

Introducing McMahon, Trump said that “hopefully she will be our last secretary of education.” He vowed “to find something else for you, Linda.”