Listen To Story Above
The Department of Education’s $80 billion budget has proven to be an ineffective investment in America’s future. After decades of promises about educational excellence and improved outcomes, the federal agency has delivered little more than red tape and mediocrity. President Trump’s proposal to dissolve the department and transfer control to individual states represents a necessary reform.
Tennessee exemplifies how state-level management can create an education system that prioritizes individual student needs and parental choice. The state’s demonstrated ability to efficiently manage educational resources for maximum impact proves that federal oversight is unnecessary for success.
Since its establishment in 1979, federal education spending has exceeded $6 trillion, yet educational outcomes remain stagnant. Current data shows reading and mathematical proficiency among 17-year-olds hasn’t improved since the 1970s. Administrative positions in public schools have grown 19 times faster than student enrollment since 2000, while classroom resources diminish and educators struggle with increasing paperwork demands.
A Department of Education Civil Rights attorney is super upset over being fired.
Guess what? We don't care.
They didn't care how upset anyone was over the Keystone Pipeline that put 10,000 hardworking Americans out of a job. pic.twitter.com/QyXEuzwtTX
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) March 12, 2025
The department has evolved into a platform for promoting controversial ideological positions that challenge parental authority. Under the Biden administration, it has advocated for critical race theory in schools and used funding as leverage to influence policies on gender-based sports participation. Tennessee maintains its focus on fundamental education, emphasizing civics, science, and critical thinking skills.
The federal government’s role in education is a relatively recent development. Prior to 1979, states like Tennessee successfully managed their educational systems independently. President Reagan recognized the department’s redundancy, advocating for increased local control. This sentiment was echoed in Newt Gingrich’s 1994 Contract with America, and now finds new momentum in President Trump’s initiative.
Tennessee’s educational achievements demonstrate the effectiveness of local control. The state leads national rankings in post-COVID academic recovery and has implemented successful literacy programs. The recent adoption of universal school choice, supported by President Trump, has enhanced parental involvement in educational decisions.
Other states show similar success with local control. Mississippi’s educational reforms have elevated fourth-grade reading scores above national averages. Florida’s twenty-year investment in educational choice has dramatically improved low-income student performance, raising reading scores from 33rd to 1st nationally while increasing graduation rates and reducing dropouts.
They really want to make everyone believe that cutting the Department of Education hurts children. Our teacher followers support sending it back to the states.
The funding is not being taken away. The salaries of the useless Department of Education are being cut! pic.twitter.com/zkpkjU3XZC
— DOGE NEWS- Department of Government Efficiency (@realdogeusa) March 18, 2025
The Constitution provides no explicit federal authority over education, supporting President Trump’s proposed reorganization. The department’s primary function of fund distribution existed effectively before its creation, and other federal agencies may be better positioned to manage specific educational services.
Eliminating federal bureaucracy won’t reduce educational funding. States currently manage 90% of K-12 funding, and Tennessee’s experience with Medicaid block grants demonstrates the potential for improved efficiency in managing federal contributions, which currently total $1.8 billion for the state.
President Trump’s initiative promises educational innovation through state-level experimentation and increased parental control over their children’s education. This transformation of American education would eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies while promoting local solutions to educational challenges.
The evidence supports ending federal control of education and returning authority to states. Local communities understand their educational needs and have proven their ability to deliver results. Empowering states to lead educational policy will create better outcomes for American students.
