While only Congress can shutter the department, the president is reportedly considering executive action to severely scale back its responsibilities and staffing.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration will take steps to defund the federal Education Department, a White House official said on Monday, adding an announcement on the planned actions may come later in February.

A labor union for federal workers says dozens of employees at the U.S. Education Department have been put on paid administrative leave in response to President Donald Trump’s order banning diversity,