In a sweeping move to restructure federal oversight of education, Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at significantly reducing the role of the U.S. Department of Education. The bill, titled the Returning Education to Our States Act, was introduced on April 9, 2025, by Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), with Senators Jim Banks (R-IN) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) serving as co-sponsors.
The proposed legislation revives a long-standing conservative objective to decentralize education policy, shifting substantial authority from the federal government to individual states. If enacted, the bill would transfer key responsibilities currently managed by the Department of Education to other federal agencies such as the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, Defense, and the Interior.
Among its major provisions, the bill proposes the elimination of federal mandates including standardized testing requirements, funding conditions tied to teacher certification, and intervention programs such as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI). States would assume full control over curriculum development, performance assessments, and professional development standards for educators.
The legislation follows an announcement by Education Secretary Linda McMahon that the Department of Education intends to reduce its workforce by nearly 50%. McMahon characterized the decision as a measure to improve “efficiency, accountability, and redirection of resources to students and educators.”
Senator Banks described the bill as a response to widespread frustration with what he termed the inefficiency and overreach of the federal education system. Senator Sheehy was even more critical, referring to the department as a “bloated federal machine” that has failed to deliver meaningful educational outcomes.
The proposal has drawn swift opposition from education advocates and Democratic lawmakers. A group of eleven Democratic senators, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), has called on the Department’s Acting Inspector General, Ren Rocque, to audit the potential consequences of the department’s downsizing and the bill’s broader implications. Warren, who is spearheading a “Save Our Schools” campaign, warned that dismantling the department could cause widespread disruption for students and families.
Inspector General Rocque has agreed to conduct a review, with findings expected to be shared with Congress later this year.
The legislation aligns with President Donald Trump’s long-standing position on education policy. In March, Trump signed an executive order directing Secretary McMahon to begin the process of winding down the Department of Education.
While proponents argue the bill would promote school choice and return control to local governments, critics warn it may deepen educational inequities and dismantle essential support systems for underserved communities.
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