H.R. 899 (IH) - To terminate the Department of Education.
Terminate the Department of Education.
Occurrences
Evidence
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H.R.899 in the 117th Congress proposed terminating the Department of Education on December 31, 2022. Congress.gov lists the latest action as referral to the House Committee on Education and Labor on February 5, 2021, and the bill status as Introduced.
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H.R.899 in the 118th Congress proposed terminating the Department of Education on December 31, 2023. Congress.gov lists the latest action as referral to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on February 9, 2023, and the bill status as Introduced.
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The introduced 119th Congress bill text names Mrs. Spartz among original supporters and states: "The Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2026."
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Congress.gov lists H.R.899's latest action as referral to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on January 31, 2025. The tracker shows status Introduced, with later steps Passed House, Passed Senate, To President, and Became Law not completed.
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Congress.gov lists "Rep. Spartz, Victoria [R-IN-5]*" as a cosponsor dated January 31, 2025; the page notes that an asterisk means original cosponsor.
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Executive Order 14242 directed the Secretary of Education to take steps, as legally permitted, to facilitate closure of the Department of Education and return authority to states and local communities.
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The Department announced a reduction in force affecting nearly 50% of its workforce, while also stating it would continue delivering statutory programs, including student loans, Pell Grants, and formula funding.
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The current U.S. Code includes 20 U.S.C. 3411, which establishes an executive department known as the Department of Education, administered by a Secretary of Education.
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The Department's official About page states ED's mission and lists offices, initiatives, contacts, the Secretary, jobs, and other ongoing agency functions.
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Congress.gov lists H.R.7148 as Public Law No. 119-75 on February 3, 2026. The enacted text includes FY2026 Department of Education appropriations and requires ED staffing for statutory responsibilities.
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Congress.gov lists H.R.899, a bill to terminate the Department of Education, as introduced and referred to the House Education and Workforce Committee on January 31, 2025; Rep. Victoria Spartz is listed as an original cosponsor on the same date.
Assessments
The Department of Education was not terminated: federal law still establishes it, its official operations continued, and FY2026 appropriations continued funding and recognizing the department. Spartz did materially support a serious legislative attempt by original-cosponsoring H.R.899 in the 119th Congress to terminate the department, but that bill remained introduced/referred and did not become law. Administrative reductions and an executive order toward closure did not abolish the statutory department, so the promised outcome failed despite effort.
The promised outcome was termination of the federal Department of Education. The evidence shows the department still existed in federal law under 20 U.S.C. 3411 and continued operating statutory programs, even after executive actions to reduce or wind down parts of the agency. Spartz did materially support a serious legislative attempt by serving as an original cosponsor of H.R. 899 in the 119th Congress, but that bill had not advanced beyond introduction or become law as of July 1, 2026. Administrative reductions and an executive order toward closure do not equal statutory termination of the department.