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Published March 20, 2025last updated March 20, 2025US President Trump is expected to sign an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. The move comes as courts confront questions on the legality of several of his administration’s actions.
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Trump said he wanted the secretary of education to take all legal steps to close the department she runsImage: Win McNamee/AFP/Getty ImagesSkip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to knowUS President Donald Trump will sign an order Thursday to close the Department of Education “once and for all.”
He also said he thought Education Secretary Linda McMahon would “hopefully” be the last person to hold her office.
Follow recent developments from the Trump administration on Thursday, March 20:
Skip next section US announces charges against Tesla arsonistsMarch 20, 2025
US announces charges against Tesla arsonistsUS Attorney General Pamela Bondi has announced charges against three individuals responsible for fire-bombing Tesla electric vehicles and charging stations.
“The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended,” Bondi said in a statement released on Thursday. “Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars.”
Tesla vehicles have been repeatedly set on fire in protest against Tesla founder Elon Musk and his role as the government’s chief austerity commissioner for Trump’s administration. Trump had openly expressed support for prosecuting violence against Tesla as domestic terrorism.
The announcement came as US safety regulators recalled virtually all Tesla Cybertrucks. It’s the eighth recall of the vehicles in just more than one year.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall covers more than 46,000 Cybertrucks and warned that an exterior panel on the left and right side of the windshield could detach while driving.
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Skip next section Judge blocks Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing Social Security recordsMarch 20, 2025
Judge blocks Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing Social Security records A federal judge stopped Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Social Security records.
US District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander called DOGE’s attempt to access the personal records a “fishing expedition.” She also ruled that the Social Security Administration likely violated privacy laws by giving DOGE “unbridled access to the personal and private data of millions of Americans.”
“The DOGE Team is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition at SSA, in search of a fraud epidemic, based on little more than suspicion,” she said in her ruling. “It has launched a search for the proverbial needle in the haystack, without any concrete knowledge that the needle is actually in the haystack.”
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Skip next section Trump to shutdown Department of EducationMarch 20, 2025
Trump to shutdown Department of EducationPresident Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday “aimed at eliminating” the US Education Department.
“We’re going to shut it down as quickly as possible,” Trump said, surrounded by students sitting at desks. “It’s doing us no good.”
Trump has called on Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all legal steps to shut down the department.
He also said critical programs currently operated by the Education Department would be moved to other agencies.
The president said dismantling the department would return decisions on education to the country’s states.
Congress would have to pass legislation to close the Department of Education completely. It is, however, unlikely that Trump has support from enough lawmakers to pass such a law.
https://p.dw.com/p/4s480
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