The official spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of an announcement.
Trump has labeled the Department of Education as wasteful and tainted by progressive ideology. However, dismantling it is likely impossible without a Congressional law, which established the department in 1979.
A White House briefing document indicated that the order would direct Secretary Linda McMahon "to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return educational authority to the states, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits that Americans rely on."
The Trump administration has already been dismantling the agency through layoffs and program cuts. The department is working to halve its workforce and reduce the Office for Civil Rights and the Institute of Education Sciences, which collects data on the nation's academic progress.
Public school advocates said that eliminating the department would leave children behind in a fundamentally unequal US education system.
"This is not fixing education. It's making sure millions of children never have a fair shot. And we're not going to let that happen without a fight," said the National Parents Union in a statement.
The White House has not formally explained which functions of the department could be transferred to other departments or eliminated altogether. During her confirmation hearing, McMahon said she would preserve core initiatives, including Title I funds for low-income schools and Pell Grants for low-income college students. The government's goal, she said, would be "a better-functioning Department of Education."
The department sends billions of dollars annually to schools and oversees $1.6 trillion in federal student loans.
Currently, much of the agency's work revolves around managing money, both from its extensive student loan portfolio and a range of programs aiding universities and school districts, from school meals to assistance for homeless students. The agency also plays a significant role in overseeing civil rights compliance.
Federal funding accounts for a relatively small portion of public school budgets: about 14%. The money often supports supplemental programs for vulnerable students, such as the McKinney-Vento program for homeless students or Title I for low-income schools.
Colleges and universities increasingly rely on Washington's money, through research grants and federal financial aid that help students pay their tuition.
Republicans have been talking about closing the Department of Education for decades, arguing that it wastes taxpayer money and involves the federal government in decisions that should be left to states and schools. The idea has gained popularity recently as conservative parent groups demand more authority over their children's schooling.
In his platform, Trump promised to close the department "and return it to the states, where it should be." Trump has called the department a breeding ground for "radicals, fanatics, and Marxists" who overstep their guidance and regulatory functions.
At the same time, Trump has relied on the Department of Education to advance elements of his agenda. He has used the research capabilities of the Office for Civil Rights and the threat of withdrawing federal education funding to pursue schools and universities that defy his orders on transgender athlete participation in women's sports, pro-Palestinian activism, and diversity programs.
Even some of Trump's allies have questioned his authority to close the agency without Congressional action, and there are doubts about its political popularity. The House of Representatives considered an amendment to close the agency in 2023, but 60 Republicans joined Democrats in opposition.
During Trump's first term, former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos sought to drastically reduce the agency's budget and asked Congress to consolidate all K-12 funding into block grants that give states more flexibility in how they spend federal money. It was rejected, with pushback from some Republicans.