Listen To Story Above

A new bill introduced by Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota aims to dissolve the Department of Education while redistributing its core functions to other federal agencies. This legislation, known as the “Returning Education to Our States Act,” is currently awaiting committee review.

The proposed legislation maintains certain educational programs but shifts their oversight. The Department of Health and Human Services would assume control of programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Impact Aid. Meanwhile, Indian Education responsibilities would transfer to the Interior Department, and the Treasury would oversee Federal Pell Grants and Federal Family Education Loan Programs.

The bill outlines provisions for elementary and secondary education funding, maintaining current fiscal year levels based on student enrollment across public, private, and home school settings, with distribution managed by the Treasury Department.

This legislative push aligns with President Trump’s recent announcement naming Linda McMahon, WWE co-founder and former Small Business Administration head, to lead education reform efforts. Trump declared, “We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.”

Despite its aim to eliminate the Education Department, the bill includes specific requirements for states receiving block grants. These include annual student data submissions to the Treasury, adherence to accounting principles and auditing procedures, and compliance with federal civil rights laws.

While the bill fulfills Trump’s goal of dismantling the Education Department, it essentially redistributes its functions to other federal agencies, particularly Treasury and Health and Human Services.

With Democrats controlling the Senate and their commitment to current educational policies, the bill faces significant hurdles to passage.

This initiative follows Trump’s previously stated intentions to reduce the Education Department to minimal staffing and his pledge to issue an executive order blocking federal funding for schools teaching Critical Race Theory, gender identity issues, or other controversial content.

At a Milwaukee event, Trump expressed his vision of parent-controlled public schools and opposition to unwanted language instruction and “woke” teaching practices.