GOP Bill Seeks to Shut Down Department of Education

Document of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.

Senate Republicans introduce a bill to abolish the Department of Education, aligning with President Trump’s executive order to return educational control to states and dismantle federal oversight.

Key Takeaways

Senator Mike Rounds introduced the “Returning Education to Our States Act” to dissolve the Department of Education and distribute its $200 billion in funding and responsibilities to other federal agencies and states.
President Trump previously signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the department, which has about 4,400 employees.
The bill would transfer student loans to the Treasury Department, IDEA to Health and Human Services, and reduce federal standardized testing requirements.
Republicans argue education should be managed locally, while critics worry about impacts on special education and civil rights protections.
The bill faces significant legislative hurdles, requiring either 60 votes in the Senate or passage through budget reconciliation with 50 votes.

Republican Senators Move to Eliminate Federal Education Department

A group of Senate Republicans have formally introduced legislation to abolish the U.S. Department of Education, advancing a longstanding conservative goal to return educational authority to states. The bill, titled the “Returning Education to Our States Act,” was introduced by Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota with co-sponsors including Jim Banks and Tim Sheehy. The legislation seeks to redistribute approximately $200 billion in funding and responsibilities currently overseen by the federal education department to other agencies and state governments.

The bill represents a legislative follow-through on President Donald Trump’s March executive order that directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the department. Under the proposed legislation, major responsibilities would be reassigned across the federal government: federal student loans would move to the Treasury Department, programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act would shift to Health and Human Services, and international education programs like the Fulbright-Hays Program would transfer to the State Department.

Trump Administration’s Vision for Educational Reform

This legislative push aligns with President Trump’s broader agenda to restructure federal education oversight. His executive order earlier this year directed Secretary McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure” of the Department of Education. The department, established in 1979, currently employs approximately 4,400 staff members, making it the smallest cabinet-level department. Despite its relatively small size, it oversees a substantial budget of $238 billion for fiscal year 2024, representing less than 2% of the federal budget.

“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,” said Senator Mike Rounds, the primary sponsor of the legislation.

The bill calls for reducing standardized testing requirements and giving schools greater control over teacher certification and professional development standards. Republicans have argued that education policy should remain primarily under state and local control, a position dating back to Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign pledge to eliminate the department. The proposed legislation would distribute various departmental functions to several federal agencies, including the Departments of Interior, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Labor, Defense, Justice, and State.

Legislative Challenges and Potential Impacts

Despite Republican enthusiasm for the bill, it faces significant legislative hurdles. Traditionally, such legislation would require a supermajority of 60 votes in the Senate to overcome potential filibusters. However, Senator Rounds has suggested the bill could potentially pass with just 50 votes through the budget reconciliation process. The legislation will be debated in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions before it can advance to the full Senate for consideration.

“For years, I’ve worked toward removing the federal Department of Education. I’m pleased that president-elect Trump shares this vision, and I’m excited to work with him and Republican majorities in the Senate and House to make this a reality. This legislation is a roadmap to eliminating the federal Department of Education by practically rehoming these federal programs in the departments where they belong, which will be critical as we move into next year,” said Senator Mike Rounds.

Education experts have raised concerns about the potential impacts of abolishing the department, particularly regarding special education programs and civil rights protections in schools. David DeMatthews, an education policy expert, noted, “I think if the public understood it and knew about it, they wouldn’t be for taking away supports to help some of the most marginalized children in our country.”

Critics also point out that while the Department of Education does not directly operate schools or set curricula, it plays a crucial role in enforcing civil rights laws in federally funded educational institutions and managing over $1.5 trillion in student loans for more than 40 million Americans. Supporters counter that the bill would streamline government operations and return educational decision-making power to communities where it belongs.