WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has signed six executive orders aimed at overhauling the American education system and workforce development strategies. The initiatives, announced alongside statements from U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, address a range of issues including higher education accountability, foreign influence at universities, school discipline policies, and workforce readiness.
Secretary McMahon emphasized the need for reform in the accreditation process for higher education, announcing that one executive order would break the “monopoly” of existing accreditors. “President Trump’s Executive Order will bring long-overdue change by accelerating the recognition of new accreditors and refocusing existing accreditors on helping member institutions improve the student outcomes families care most about,” she said.
Another directive targets the presence of foreign influence at U.S. universities. According to Secretary McMahon, this order restores oversight measures dismantled by the Biden Administration, focusing on curbing unreported foreign funding and securing intellectual property. “The Department of Education will ‘follow the money,’ put a stop to malign foreign infiltration, secure the research enterprise, and restore American campuses to marketplaces of ideas rather than hosts for foreign propaganda,” she stated.
President Trump also signed an order to roll back policies that considered equity and inclusion in school discipline, aiming to prioritize student safety over racial quotas. “Today, President Trump is taking historic and commonsense action to boost school safety standards,” said McMahon.
The President further highlighted the importance of supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The executive order promotes partnerships and resource-sharing to foster innovation and economic growth at these institutions. Secretary McMahon pledged active collaboration, reiterating her dedication to advancing HBCUs as “hubs of opportunity and economic engines.”
Two additional orders focus on aligning education with evolving workforce demands. One initiative mandates the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into K-12 curricula, ensuring students are equipped to excel in a technology-driven economy. Another emphasizes career-focused education through apprenticeships and dual enrollment programs, aiming to prepare Americans for high-paying skilled trades. “Not every student needs to attend a four-year university to enter a family-sustaining career,” said McMahon.
These sweeping directives intend to address systemic issues in education and workforce preparation, with an eye toward innovation, security, and equity. Moving forward, the Department of Education aims to collaborate with stakeholders to foster accessible, high-quality education systems while bolstering the nation’s economic and technological leadership.
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