Sen. Rounds introduces bill to abolish U.S. Department of Education

Legislation intended to return education to state and local government entities

South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds has introduced legislation to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and reassign its programs to other federal agencies.

The proposed “Returning Education to Our States Act” would dismantle the department - established in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter - and redistribute its responsibilities to other federal entities, including the Interior, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Labor, and State departments.

The bill would require total abolishment of the Department of Education within a year after it was enacted into law, along with a report from the secretary of education with a plan for the transfer of necessary programs.

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