South Dakota Senator Introduces Legislation to Eliminate Dept. of Education
South Dakota Senator Introduces Legislation to Eliminate Dept. of Education
The Facts
Republican US Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota introduced legislation on Thursday to eliminate the Department of Education (ED), which was first established in 1979. Rounds said he's been pursuing such legislation "for years."
He said it would "eliminate" the department and redistribute all critical federal programs to other agencies. For example, before 1979, Indigenous programs were under the Department of the Interior and student loans were under the Treasury Department.
The Spin
Since its inception, which was simply a quid pro quo between then-Pres. Jimmy Carter and a teachers union, the ED has only fostered federal overreach and ideological agendas over basic education. This has led to declining literacy rates and divisive curricula. Returning control to states and reallocating functions to existing agencies would improve efficiency and accountability.
The Department of Education is vital for equal access to education and the nation's democracy. It ensures funding for low-income schools, enforces anti-discrimination laws, supports students with disabilities, and distributes billions of dollars in grants and loans. Removing it risks deep inequities, worsens teacher shortages, and abandons federal accountability crucial for student success.
