The White House is preparing an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education, two sources familiar with the plans told NBC News.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would like to close the U.S. Department of Education using an executive order but acknowledged he would need buy-ins from Congress and teachers' unions to fulfill his campaign pledge to do so.

The Trump administration is hoping to drastically shrink the Education Department, using an executive order now in the works. The order — as described by three people briefed on its contents, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss internal issues — would seek a plan for Congress to abolish the department altogether,