Work to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education.

Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) recently discussed plans to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education with Secretary Linda McMahon at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies.

Rounds discussed plans to eliminate the Department of Education in a Senate hearing with Secretary McMahon.

Rounds Discusses Eliminating the Department of Education with Secretary McMahon
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.4-mini

I'm ready to work with my colleagues in the Senate to do our part in assisting President Trump in cutting spending, eliminating unnecessary programs and streamlining the federal government so it works for the people rather than the bureaucracy. One place to start is eliminating the federal Department of Education and returning educational decisions to our states, saving at least $1.3 billion in taxpayer dollars.

Rounds says he will work to eliminate the federal Department of Education.

Rounds Joins Department of Government Ef... | U.S. Senator Mike Rounds
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.4-mini

Rounds' office listed a May 1, 2026 press release titled "Rounds Discusses Eliminating the Department of Education with Secretary McMahon."

This is direct, recent evidence that Rounds continued active work toward eliminating the Education Department during his current Senate term, though it does not show legislative success.

partial same_term A for effort

Press Releases | U.S. Senator Mike Rounds
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 95%

The Education Department said on June 12 that Secretary McMahon visited schools as part of the "Returning Education to the States Tour" and the Department's "History Rocks!" tour.

Within the lookback window, the Department of Education was still operating and publicly advancing a return-to-states agenda, which supports only partial progress rather than completion of the elimination promise.

partial same_term

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Visits Connecticut on Returning Education to the States and 'History Rocks!' Nationwide Tours
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 89%

Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (Introduced 11/21/2024). Latest Action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. This bill has the status Introduced. CRS summary: This bill abolishes the Department of Education.

Congress.gov shows Rounds formally introduced a bill to abolish the Department of Education, but it remained only introduced and referred to committee in the 118th Congress.

partial same_term A for effort

S.5384 - Returning Education to Our States Act, 118th Congress (2023-2024)
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 97%

Mr. Rounds introduced the following bill. A BILL To abolish the Department of Education, and for other purposes. SEC. 2. Abolishment of Department of Education. Effective 180 days after enactment, the Department of Education is abolished.

The official bill text directly matches the promise by proposing abolition of the Department of Education, but it required enactment and had not become law in that Congress.

partial same_term A for effort

Text - S.5384 - Returning Education to Our States Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 97%

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds today introduced the Returning Education to Our States Act, which would eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Rounds said: For years, I’ve worked toward removing the federal Department of Education.

Rounds' Senate office described his November 2024 bill as a roadmap to eliminate the department and documented his stated continued work toward that goal.

partial same_term A for effort

Rounds Introduces Legislation to Eliminate U.S. Department of Education
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 95%

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds today 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 reintroduced the elimination bill in the 119th Congress, showing continued concrete effort, but the release did not show enactment or actual elimination.

partial same_term A for effort

Rounds Leads Legislation to Eliminate U.S. Department of Education
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 94%

Rounds recently discussed plans to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education with Secretary Linda McMahon. His office said he first introduced the act in November 2024 and reintroduced it for the 119th Congress in April 2025.

This 2026 official release shows Rounds was still actively pressing the issue with the Education Secretary during his Senate service, but still short of delivery.

partial same_term A for effort

Rounds Discusses Eliminating the Department of Education with Secretary McMahon
primary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 95%

The Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.

The Trump administration issued an executive order directing steps toward closure, which aligns with Rounds' objective, but the order itself was limited by existing law and did not abolish the department.

partial same_term

Executive Order 14242: Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 90%

The U.S. Department of Education homepage, page last reviewed June 29, 2026, listed active department news dated June 30, 2026 and stated ED is America's education agency.

As of the assessment window immediately before July 1, 2026, the Department of Education still publicly existed and operated, so the promised elimination had not been delivered.

never same_term

Home | U.S. Department of Education
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 97%