In a bold move that echoes a long-standing Republican goal, Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota has introduced legislation to abolish the US Department of Education. The bill, dubbed the “Returning Education to Our States Act,” seeks to redistribute the department’s $200 billion budget to individual states and other federal agencies.
Senator Rounds, announcing the bill, declared, “The federal Department of Education has never educated a single student, and it’s long past time to end this bureaucratic department that causes more harm than good.” His statement aligns with the views of President-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to shutter the department as part of his education reform agenda.
Redistributing Responsibilities
Under the proposed legislation, key functions of the Education Department would be reassigned to other government entities:
- The Treasury Department would assume control of federal student loan administration.
- The Department of Health and Human Services would oversee the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which safeguards the rights of 7.5 million students with special needs.
- The State Department would take charge of the Fulbright-Hays Program, which facilitates international educational exchanges.
Legislative Hurdles
Despite Senator Rounds’ optimism about passing the bill with a simple majority through the budget reconciliation process, the path forward appears challenging. The measure would require 60 votes to clear the Senate, where Democrats and some independents who oppose eliminating the department still hold sway. Even if reintroduced in the next term under Republican control, the bill faces an uphill battle.
“People who are Republicans who voted for Trump, they may have a child with a disability or a traumatic brain injury that is in a special program that would cost that family $50-60,000. They want their child to be in a high-quality program that’s evaluated by the state.”
– Dr. David DeMatthews, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy, University of Texas
Experts like Dr. DeMatthews caution that abolishing the Education Department could jeopardize critical support for marginalized students, including those with disabilities, English language learners, and low-income families. The department plays a vital role in enforcing civil rights protections and ensuring equitable access to quality education.
A Contentious History
The push to eliminate the Education Department is not a new phenomenon. Since its establishment in 1980 under President Jimmy Carter, the department has been a perennial target for Republicans. Ronald Reagan campaigned on the promise to dismantle it, only to be persuaded otherwise by his first education secretary.
Over the years, the department’s focus has shifted with the political winds. Democratic administrations have steered it in a more progressive direction, as exemplified by the Biden administration’s recent Title IX rules extending protections for LGBTQ+ students and victims of sexual misconduct. Republicans, in turn, have sought to curtail its influence and return more control to states.
Trump’s Education Vision
For President-elect Trump, closing the Education Department is a cornerstone of his education platform. He has pledged to return school choice to the states, cut federal funding for programs deemed “inappropriate,” and create a new credentialing body to certify teachers who “embrace patriotic values.” His selection of Linda McMahon, a former WWE executive, to lead the department she is tasked with dismantling has raised eyebrows and concerns among education advocates.
“Across the board, what we’re seeing is already people in the Trump administration and some Republicans really trying to walk back some basic civil rights victories that happened in the 60s and 70s to support students with disabilities, low-income families, English learners.”
– Dr. David DeMatthews
As the nation grapples with the implications of the proposed legislation, the fate of the Education Department hangs in the balance. While supporters argue that eliminating the department will reduce bureaucracy and empower states, critics warn of dire consequences for the most vulnerable students. The coming months will reveal whether Senator Rounds’ bill gains traction or becomes another footnote in the contentious history of American education policy.
