Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said that congressional approval is needed to close the agency. Deep cuts to the workforce are expected in the short term.

Trump, 78, has also made no bones about his plans for the Education Department, telling reporters last month he hoped his nominee would “put herself out of a job.”

President Trump is expected to issue an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin taking the necessary steps to shutter the department. An administration official told NewsNation White House correspondent Libbey Dean early Thursday that Trump would sign an executive order Thursday afternoon that directs McMahon to begin dissolving the Education Department.

Linda McMahon said Friday that President Donald Trump "intends" to sign an executive order to dissolve the Department of Education -- but it's still unclear when.

President Trump is expected to direct his secretary of education to dissolve the Department of Education by executive order this week, sources said.

The drafted executive order instructs McMahon to “take all ... Education Secretary Linda McMahon has told staff that ‘Millions of young Americans are trapped in failing schools’ (Getty ...

President Trump is expected to sign an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin the process of dissolving the Department of Education, despite the challenges of requiring congressional approval for full elimination.

The White House pulled the expected signing of the executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, multiple sources tell ABC News.