President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to start dismantling the Education Department.

"It sounds strange, doesn’t it? Department of Education. We’re going to eliminate it," Trump said in the East Room of the White House at a ceremony where he was flanked by children seated at school desks. Before he signed the order, Trump turned to the children and asked, “Should I do this?”

Introducing McMahon, Trump said that “hopefully she will be our last secretary of education.” He vowed “to find something else for you, Linda.”

Congressional approval would be needed to fully abolish the department. Trump said he hoped Democrats would vote in favor.

“I hope they’re going to be voting for it," Trump said of congressional Democrats, "because ultimately it may come before them.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday morning that the department would not be completely eliminated under the executive order, saying its “critical functions” would continue, including the enforcement of civil rights laws and oversight of student loans and Pell grants.

"The Department of Education will be much smaller than it is today," Leavitt said, adding that the order directed McMahon "to greatly minimize the agency. So when it comes to student loans and Pell grants, those will still be run out of the Department of Education."

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