US Senate takes up bill to abolish Department of Education

On November 21, Republican Senator Mike Rounds (South Dakota) introduced a bill to abolish the U.S. Department of Education , officially advancing a plan supported by President-elect Donald Trump.

The U.S. Department of Education headquarters in Maryland

Photo: taken from edweek

USA Today reported on an announcement from Senator Mike Rounds' office regarding the bill's presentation to the U.S. Senate. According to the announcement, Rounds argues that education should be under the purview of local school districts and state Departments of Education, rather than the federal Department of Education.

The draft bill to reclaim control of education from the states proposes reallocating the work of the Department of Education to other agencies of the Washington administration.

The bill was introduced after Donald Trump, during his election campaign, stated he wanted to close the Department of Education if he were to return to the White House.

"We want to dissolve the federal Department of Education," Trump publicly stated in October.

In a recent statement from Senator Rounds' office, the senator said he has been working for years to dismantle the Department of Education.

Even before taking office, Trump faces the risk of opposition from many states.

The U.S. Department of Education was established in 1979 and began operations a year later. Today, the department performs many functions and pours billions of dollars into low-income public schools nationwide, and provides billions more in support to American citizens to pay for college tuition each year.

Dissolving a department during the next congressional term and the White House would require the support of Democratic senators who oppose the idea.

Some Republican members of Capitol Hill also argue that the Department of Education should remain in place because they value its role in advancing the political agenda of President-elect Donald Trump after he takes office in early 2025.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thuong-vien-my-tiep-nhan-du-luat-de-nghi-xoa-so-bo-giao-duc-185241122084958654.htm