President Donald Trump is at it again, folks! On Thursday, he’s slated to sign an executive order to shut down the U.S. Department of Education, finally fulfilling what seems to be a lifelong ambition for many conservatives. Apparently, the Department has been deemed a veritable wasteland of liberal ideologies that Trump insists are dragging down our kids’ education.

But let’s be real: this isn’t just a political move; it’s a massive gamble with the future of our youth. The Department of Education, established in 1979, has long been a target for conservatives who argue it wastes taxpayer money and distorts education with government overreach.

Trump has tapped Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to lead this charge. Her marching orders? Facilitating the Department’s closure and returning education authority to each state. Sounds simple, right? Except that this might be about as easy as trying to open a pickle jar underwater.

While the White House might promise to ensure uninterrupted delivery of educational services, advocates for public education are shaking their heads in dismay. Advocates fear that this move will exacerbate the already glaring inequalities in the American education system. “This isn’t fixing education. It’s making sure millions of children never get a fair shot,” declared the National Parents Union in a passionate statement.

Already, the Trump administration has been downsizing the department like it’s a last-season wardrobe. Cuts have been widespread, with its workforce reportedly slashed by half and critical functions like the Office for Civil Rights facing deep funding reductions.

So what happens if the department closes? It sends a measly 14% of funding to public school budgets, which is often used for programs aimed at supporting vulnerable students. Without that federal backing, programs for low-income schools may be left twisting in the wind.

And yes, let’s not forget the champion of this initiative: Trump and his band of merry conservatives who have been calling the Department a home for “radicals, zealots, and Marxists”. Meanwhile, he’s strategically leveraged its power to serve his agenda, targeting schools based on their stances on various issues.

With Congress needing to play some ball for true closure to happen, many Republican allies are skeptical whether Trump can even pull this one off. After all, the House saw a fair share of pushback on past efforts to eliminate the Department. Who knew that perhaps not even your average Republican wants to be associated with trashing education?

So stay alert, young reformists! This fight isn’t over yet, and there’s a long road of decision-making ahead. When it comes to our education system, the future needs to be brighter, not dimmed by the whim of political agendas.