WASHINGTON, D.C.(Press Release) –U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) Wednesday reintroduced the Returning Education to Our States Act, which would eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and redistribute all critical federal programs to other departments. Rounds first introduced this legislation in November 2024.

This legislation does not cut a dollar of education funding. Rather, funds will continue to flow directly to states in the form of block grants with other critical programs funded through the appropriate federal agencies. Eliminating the bureaucracy at the Department of Education will save approximately $2.2 billion per year in taxpayer dollars.

“We all know that teachers, parents, local school boards and state Departments of Education know what’s best for their students, not bureaucrats in Washington,”said Rounds. “The Department of Education was created to collect education data and advise state and local organizations on best practices. Since then, it has grown into an oversized bureaucracy that dictates one-size-fits-all policies, standards and practices for students across the nation. The Returning Education to Our States Act would preserve important programs and federal funding while eliminating the bureaucracy of the Department of Education. This has been a priority of mine for years, and it’s one that President Trump shares. I’m looking forward to working with the President, Secretary McMahon and the rest of the administration to get this legislation across the finish line and return education decisions to the state and local levels where they belong.”

This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.).