A newly introduced bill in the US Senate aims to fulfill former President Donald Trump’s long-standing goal of abolishing the federal Department of Education. This initiative, spearheaded by Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota, is formally titled the Returning Education to Our States Act. If enacted, the bill would transfer approximately $200 billion in federal education funding and services to various federal agencies and state authorities. Rounds expressed a strong belief that the Department of Education has not contributed to student education and described it as a bureaucratic entity that does more harm than good. He is confident that President Trump, who supports this vision, will work alongside him and the Republican majorities in Congress to see this plan brought to fruition.
The Rounds-sponsored bill proposes redistributing key functions of the Department of Education to other departments. For instance, the administration of federal student loans would shift to the Treasury Department, while the enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which protects the rights of 7.5 million special needs students, would move to the Department of Health and Human Services. The oversight of the Fulbright-Hays Program would also transition, coming under the purview of the Department of State. Although ideally positioned to advance through a Republican-controlled Senate, the bill faces hurdles; it requires a supermajority of 60 votes, which means garnering bipartisan support will be crucial for its passage.
Senator Rounds has expressed optimism that he could potentially secure a passage with just 50 votes using reconciliation, a legislative process that allows for the enactment of tax and spending bills with a simple majority. However, achieving this may prove challenging, as the Democrats and certain independents who oppose abolishing the education department still control the Senate and White House. Nonetheless, there is a possibility for Rounds to reintroduce the bill in future sessions once the Republicans take control. Regardless, the path forward remains complex and requires negotiation and support from across the political spectrum.
Concerns have been raised by education and policy experts regarding the implications of dismantling the Department of Education. Some, like David DeMatthews, a professor in educational leadership and policy at the University of Texas, are skeptical of the complete eradication of the department but voice significant fears over what would happen if the bill were to pass. Education is an issue that spans political divides, as parents from all political backgrounds can find themselves reliant on special education services regulated at the federal level. Many families want robust protections in place to ensure their children receive quality education, particularly for those with disabilities. The IDEA has historically provided such support, and eliminating the federal oversight could jeopardize these essential services.
The abolition of the Department of Education has been a long-term objective of the Republican Party since its establishment in 1980. Despite attempts to dismantle it in the past, particularly during Ronald Reagan’s campaigns, practical realities have often prevented such a sweeping change. The federal education department has had its policies shaped by the political climate, often swinging from more progressive approaches under Democratic leadership to conservative measures under Republican administrations. This tug-of-war reflects broader national debates on education, including current issues surrounding protections for LGBTQ+ students and debates over critical race theory in school curricula.
Trump’s education policies have consistently promoted the elimination of the Department of Education and the introduction of a new credentialing system aimed at aligning with “patriotic values.” He has promised to place education decision-making back into the hands of individual states, arguing that this will lead to better outcomes and reasserting the belief that federal oversight is unnecessary. In his recent claims about the department being filled with staff who allegedly do not care for children, Trump has further fueled sentiment against federal education oversight. His appointment of former WWE executive Linda McMahon as the new Secretary of Education highlights his commitment to reforms that align more closely with Republican ideals, even though experts express concerns about backlash against civil rights and protections for marginalized students. Overall, the ongoing debate about the future of the Department of Education signals critical choices ahead for the nation’s educational landscape.