Sky News interrupted for 'breaking news' after Donald Trump's bombshell announcement
Sky News paused their news programme to make a huge announcement following Donald Trump's latest move.
Sky News halted for huge Trump update
Sky News ground to a halt as they cut to the White House for breaking news as US President Donald Trump began the process of closing the US Department Of Education. In front of a room full of spectators and media he put pen to paper as he signed an executive order closing the US Department of Education. As he picked up the pen he said: "It is very lucky. I signed another document that turned out very good for the country and I said, 'let's use that same pen. I don't know if anybody's superstition, let's use that same pen'."
The order, which Trump promised while on the campaign trail, would "expand educational opportunities" and "empower parents, states, and communities to take control and improve outcomes for all students", according to a White House spokesman. The education department which was established in 1979, oversees funding for public schools, administers student loans and runs programmes that help low-income students but Trump has accused it of indoctrinating young people with racial, sexual, and political material.
"We're going to be returning education, very simply, back to the states where it belongs," Trump said. "And this is a very popular thing to do, but much more importantly, it's a common sense thing to do, and it's going to work, absolutely."
After signing the document he smiled as he held it aloft for the room to see as people applauded.Don't miss: Brian May says he is 'not proud of it' as Queen legend admits regret
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The move is already facing legal challenges from people trying to block the department's closure and prevent the sweeping cuts to staff announced last week.
Trump inherited a department with 4,133 employees but 600 have chosen to leave - either resigning or retiring. Last week, 1,300 workers were told they were losing their jobs. That will leave just 2,183 staff at the department.
Although Trump wants the department axed, eliminating it completely will require approval by Congress, which is seen as unlikely given the slim 53-47 majority Republicans hold in the Senate.
Major legislation such as closing a department requires 60 votes.
