Senator Mike Rounds is pushing a bold plan to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education entirely—reigniting a fierce national debate over who should control America’s classrooms.
At a Glance
- Senator Rounds introduces bill to abolish Department of Education
- Education funds would be managed by the Treasury Department
- States would gain full control over public school systems
- Estimated savings from federal cuts exceed $2 billion annually
States vs. Washington: The Battle for Education
In a move certain to spark controversy, Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota has introduced the Returning Education to Our States Act, a sweeping proposal that would dissolve the U.S. Department of Education and transfer its duties to other federal agencies. As outlined by Rounds’ official statement, the bill seeks to “restore control to states and local communities” by slashing what he describes as bloated federal oversight.
Instead of a centralized bureaucracy in Washington, the proposal would shift funding responsibilities to the Department of the Treasury, while programs like Impact Aid and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act would fall under the Department of Health and Human Services. The Office of Indian Education would be absorbed by the Department of the Interior.
Watch Rounds discuss the legislation at Senator Rounds Proposes Education Overhaul.
What’s at Stake: Billions and the Future of Oversight
Rounds estimates the U.S. could save over $2.2 billion annually by cutting federal education bureaucracy—money he says could be returned to states or even to taxpayers. According to News Center 1, Rounds insists this doesn’t mean cutting funding for schools—just changing who controls it.
“States still get the money,” Rounds said. “There’s no cut in it, but there is a savings to the taxpayer, about $2 billion… that can go back to the states or to the taxpayers in terms of reduced costs.”
But critics warn the bill could gut key protections for vulnerable student populations. According to a report from SchoolHouse Connection, the legislation could lead to the loss of federal support for homeless and low-income students, among others. Without a national standard, disparities between states could grow even wider.
Power Shift or Political Theater?
The legislation reflects a broader conservative push to decentralize power from Washington and hand it back to state governments. Similar proposals have been introduced before, but none have succeeded. This time, however, the bill has been formally introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, as confirmed by Congress.gov.
While passage remains uncertain in the current political climate, the proposal is already reshaping the conversation about federal involvement in education. If successful, it would mark one of the most significant restructurings of American public education in modern history.
