Republicans Push to Nuke Department of Education [WATCH]

Three Republican senators have introduced new legislation aimed at eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, a move that would align with President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to abolish the agency.

Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Bernie Moreno (R-OH) presented the bill on Thursday, which would dissolve the Department of Education by December 31, 2026.

This marks the third time Sen. Paul has introduced similar legislation.

BREAKING: Senator Rand Paul has introduced a 1 Sentence Bill in the Senate that ABOLISHES the Dept. of Education.

“My father introduced legislation to eliminate the Dept of Education in the early 1980’s. @RepThomasMassie continued the same bill —one sentence – and I’ve… pic.twitter.com/SCSJF7bawP

— Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) March 21, 2025

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He previously proposed bills to eliminate the agency in 2020 and 2021, as well as advocating for broader reforms to the U.S. public education system.

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One of his key legislative efforts, the Support Children Having Open Opportunities for Learning (SCHOOL) Act, aims to ensure that federal education funds follow students to whatever type of school they attend—whether public, private, charter, or even homeschooling.

The lawmakers explained their reasons for wanting to abolish the Education Department, citing a belief that education policy should be decided at the state and local level.

“There is no constitutional role for the federal government in education, and returning power to the states will empower parents, cut red tape, and give our students the opportunity to receive the best possible education,” said Moreno.

He added that the bill reflects a long-standing Republican goal to end the department, calling it an important part of the platform he campaigned on.

Sen. Mike Lee, who also supports the bill, pointed out the decline in American public education since the Department of Education was established 45 years ago.

“In the 45 years since the Department of Education was established, the quality of American public schooling has declined, the cost of college has skyrocketed, and parents and students have come second to administrators and unions,” Lee stated.

He called for an end to federal interference in education, promoting school choice, parental rights, and academic achievement.

Senator Paul emphasized the negative impact of Washington’s “uniform approach to education.”

He argued that the department’s policies have stifled innovation and limited parental choice.

“It’s time to empower families and local leaders to make the best decisions for their students, rather than relying on out-of-touch federal regulators,” Paul said.

RAND PAUL DEFENDS TRUMP MOVE TO ELIMINATE FEDERAL DEPT OF EDUCATION. MARGARET BRENNAN IS NOT PLEASED.pic.twitter.com/QVaOXhXNIg

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) March 24, 2025

Critics of the Education Department have long pointed to the significant taxpayer funding spent on U.S. education, which is among the highest in the world, while American students’ academic performance lags behind that of students in other countries.

The three senators argue that dismantling the department is an essential step in improving national education and ensuring that U.S. students compete on a level playing field.

The proposed bill emphasizes decentralization and individual freedom, aiming for a high-quality education free from federal interference. It reflects a broader desire to shift the control of education back to states and local governments.

This effort builds on President Trump’s push to dismantle the Education Department, which he made a key part of his agenda.

On March 20, Trump signed an executive order directing the closure of the agency, stating, “We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. It’s doing us no good.”

He suggested that the department’s responsibilities could be absorbed by other agencies, such as moving federal student loan management to the Treasury Department and transferring special education programs to the Department of Health and Human Services.

I have tears in my eyes. Not only did Trump sign the Executive Order, the KIDS around him also signed their own Executive Orders. So historic ❤️

Abolish the Department of Education

Such a huge win for Kids pic.twitter.com/RWs0og5wMK

— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) March 20, 2025

The executive order, however, has been challenged in court by the NAACP and teachers unions, who argue that Trump’s move bypassed Congress’s role in making such a decision.

If Congress passes the new bill to eliminate the department, the fate of the lawsuit remains uncertain.

Before issuing the executive order, President Trump had already cut the Education Department’s workforce by half, reducing it from approximately 4,200 employees to 2,100 through layoffs and deferred resignations.

The restructuring is part of the administration’s broader efforts to reduce the size of the federal government and shift education policy away from Washington.

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