Legislation filed in the U.S. Senate last month would end the U.S. Department of Education, but it would also redistribute many of its key functions to other federal departments and agencies. Much of the remaining funding would simply be handed to the states as block grants with some strings attached.
Echoing Ronald Reagan’s pledge, President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to eliminate the controversial department altogether since his 2016 campaign. With his mandate victory the race is on in Congress and among transition officials including Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon to figure out the logistics of doing it.
Some lawmakers such as Congressman Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) have advocated for years simply abolishing it. His bill H.R. 899, introduced in multiple congresses, is one-sentence long. Other lawmakers, however, hope to preserve certain responsibilities and powers at agencies ranging from Treasury and Labor to Interior and Health and Human Services.
Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota just introduced the “Returning Education to Our States Act” to abolish the department while keeping many of its functions. “The federal Department of Education has never educated a single student,” said Senator Rounds in a statement. “We all know local control is best when it comes to education.”
Referring to the bill as a “roadmap” for eliminating the scandal-plagued department, The GOP senator touted its “practically rehoming these federal programs in the departments where they belong.” That is “critical as we move into next year,” he said, without elaborating on why those programs should be “rehomed” rather than abolished. […]
— Read More: libertysentinel.org
