Articles

# Advocates, Lawmakers, Parents Applaud President Trump’s Bold Action on Education

The White House
March 20, 2025

Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to officially begin the process of closing the Department of Education. After more than four decades and over $3 trillion spent with virtually nothing to show for it, President Trump’s bold plan will return education back where it belongs — with the states.

President Trump’s executive action was met with immediate praise:

Gov. Greg Abbott: “At the White House right now. Headed to see President @realDonaldTrump return control of education back to the states—where it belongs.”

Gov. Mike Braun: “Education is a state and local responsibility. I support President Trump’s bold action to return education to where it belongs and to put parents in the driver’s seat of their children’s education. Indiana is leading the way, having jumped from a middle of the pack state to sixth in the nation in reading. Hoosiers know what our students need to succeed better than bureaucrats in D.C.”

Gov. Mike DeWine: “Every student, family, and community is different. … By giving states more authority over education, we will have the flexibility to focus our efforts on tailoring an educational experience that is best for our children and that meets Ohio’s needs, rather than trying to chase federal priorities.”

Gov. Jeff Landry: “The United States spends the most on education, yet we are ranked at the bottom of nearly every poll. The time for change is NOW! Thank you President @realDonaldTrump for returning education where it belongs— the states!”

Gov. Bill Lee: “Proud to be at the White House today as President @realDonaldTrump delivers on his promise to return education to the states & parents.”

Gov. Joe Lombardo: “Today, President Donald Trump delivered one of the most influential reforms yet of his presidency: reducing the size of the Department of Education and returning education back to state control. With his Executive Order, President Trump has boldly reimagined what education can – and should – look like in our country.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds: “Education decisions should be made by those who know students best—parents, teachers, and local communities. Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump and @EDSecMcMahon, for your leadership and commitment to education freedom. It was an honor to attend today’s historic signing – Iowa stands ready!”

Gov. Larry Rhoden: “I am glad to have a president who recognizes that South Dakota can make better decisions for our kids than DC ever could. Thank you to @realDonaldTrump for signing an Executive Order that returns authority over education to the states and the people.”

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders: “President @realDonaldTrump knows the one-size-fits-all approach will never meet the needs of every child. Thank you, Mr. President for fighting for parents and students across the country!”

Gov. Kevin Stitt: “Today is a great day to dismantle the Department of Education.”

Gov. Glenn Youngkin: “Virginia is ready to take full responsibility for K-12 education. We have implemented a high-expectations agenda that sets rigorous standards, holds schools accountable for results and prioritizes resources to the students and schools that need the most support. We welcome the federal government’s shift of responsibility to the states—and we are grateful that President Trump’s executive order does just that. The EO also makes it clear that there will be no discrimination in the classrooms. We will continue to ensure every student graduates career-, college-, or military-ready.”

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy: “I agree with President Trump that the Department of Education has failed its mission. Since the Department can only be shut down with Congressional approval, I will support the President’s goals by submitting legislation to accomplish this as soon as possible.”

Sen. John Barrasso: “President Trump is improving America’s education system. The true strength of our education system lies with the states and our local communities. Today’s executive order sidelines the Washington bureaucracy and puts Wyoming parents in the driver’s seat when it comes to their child’s education.”

Sen. Marsha Blackburn: “President Trump has my full support in eliminating the Department of Education. Bring the money back to states and with the students.”

Sen. John Cornyn: “I applaud this bold move by @POTUS and @EDSecMcMahon to give education policy back to state & local educators and parents. Texas is already a leader in empowering parents, & this is the right move by POTUS to support children over unions, unlike the Biden administration”

Sen. Markwayne Mullin: “Parents know the truth, and the data is clear: DC control of education is NOT working. One size doesn’t fit all. @POTUS is empowering families, teachers, and local communities to improve outcomes and create greater opportunities for our students. Promises made, promises kept.”

Sen. Rand Paul: “My father introduced legislation to eliminate the Dept of Education in the early 1980s. Rep. Massie continued the same bill – one sentence – and I’ve introduced the Senate version. Thanks to President Trump for working to return education to the states.”

Sen. Pete Ricketts: “Federal education policy should empower parents, states, and local school districts, not federal bureaucrats. That’s what is happening in this administration. @POTUS is refocusing the Education Department on its core missions and pushing power back to the state and local level.”

Sen. Mike Rounds: “The federal BUREACRACY of Education has never educated a single student. It’s time to shut it down. Today’s news is a step in the right direction. Congress should follow the executive branch’s lead and act accordingly. I am working on legislation that would return education decisions to states and local school districts while maintaining important programs like special education and Title I. We are discussing this legislation with Secretary McMahon and we believe there is a very good path forward.”

Sen. Rick Scott: “As the federal Department of Education has grown, student performance has consistently declined. @POTUS & @EDSecMcMahon’s decisive action will empower parents, teachers & students to make decisions that drive students’ success.”

Sen. Tommy Tuberville: “The federal government doesn’t belong in the classroom, plain and simple. Promises made, promises kept.”

Speaker Mike Johnson: “For many decades, the federal Department of Education has failed our students, families, and teachers. Education is best administered by parents and teachers and those closest to students, not bureaucrats in Washington, DC. President Trump is keeping his promise and returning education to the states.”

Chairwoman Lisa McClain: “The U.S. Department of Education has been pushing woke policies for far too long. There is too much bloated federal bureaucracy. Despite more money being spent, test scores have not improved. We should focus the dollars on the students, not administrators. I look forward to working with @POTUS and @EdSecMcMahon to improve education in America.”

House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg: “The key to improving education is empowering parents and students and reducing the role of Washington bureaucrats. Over the last four years, the nation has seen the results of empowering the Department of Education. … We now have a secretary of education, Linda McMahon, who understands the importance of getting the federal government out of the way. And I look forward to working alongside her to get the federal government off the backs of students, families, educators, and taxpayers. Bottom line, the Department of Education has failed to deliver results for America’s students and today’s actions by the Trump administration will help ensure our nation’s youth are put first.”

Rep. Brian Babin: “President Trump just took education OUT of the hands of woke elites and gave it BACK to parents! His executive order ensures states, NOT DC, make decisions for our kids.”

Rep. Jim Baird: “This Executive Order is a monumental step in making school choice a reality for every family, improving educational outcomes for our students, empowering parents, and making American education great again.”

Rep. Stephanie Bice: “Today’s executive order from @POTUS empowers parents and renews commitments to put the educational needs of our children above the desires of Washington bureaucrats. This executive order will reduce regulations and streamline the process of sending funding to states and localities.”

Rep. Andy Biggs: “Taxpayer funding for public schools is at an all-time high, but test scores are at an all-time low. The radical Biden-Harris regime weaponized the Department of Education against their opponents. President Trump is rightfully returning power to the States and parents.”

Rep. Ben Cline: “President Trump’s Executive Order to begin closing the federal education department puts parents and students first by restoring local control over education. The Department of Education has spent too long pushing woke policies instead of focusing on student success.”

Rep. Michael Cloud: “The Department of Education has failed to actually educate our children for decades—instead pushing CRT and allowing boys in girls’ bathrooms. Dismantling this bureaucracy and returning power to states and parents is crucial to make America the best in world in education again.”

Rep. Andrew Clyde: “President Trump knows we can—and must—do better. It all starts with dismantling the Department of Education.”

Rep. Eli Crane: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. The Department of Education has failed our nation’s students for decades. It’s time to chart a new path. Thank you to President Trump for having the courage to do this.”

Rep. Mike Collins: “The federal government’s involvement in schools has been a failure and never should have started. I strongly support @POTUS’s Executive Order to put education back in the hands of parents, states, and communities, rather than failing federal systems.”

Rep. Jeff Crank: “I have been incredibly vocal in my support for eliminating the Department of Education. I applaud @POTUS Trump’s decision in returning the power of education decisions to parents and local governments, where it rightfully belongs.”

Rep. Byron Donalds: “@usedgov has FAILED. They prioritized bureaucracy over the success of our kids. Thank you @realDonaldTrump for signing this historic EO. It’s time to return education to the states & in Florida, we will ensure our kids are not just at grade-level, but that they’re PROFICIENT.”

Rep. Tom Emmer: “The best education is closest to the child. This is a win for America’s children! Thank you, @POTUS.”

Rep. Chuck Edwards: “.@POTUS just signed an executive order to close the Department of Education, finally returning education authority back to the states and parents who know what their student needs to succeed best. The historically high tax dollars funding the department have not paid off, with repeatedly low test scores among students. This order puts the interests of our youth first by getting rid of the bureaucracies that hinder quality education.”

Rep. Russell Fry: “Since the creation of @usedgov, it has spent over $3 TRILLION! And for what? America has some of the lowest test and literacy scores in the world. @POTUS is giving the power of the purse back to the people closest to our children—states and parents.”

Rep. Virginia Foxx: “Love to see it.”

Rep. Lance Gooden: “The Department of Education does not run a single school or teach a single student. Yet, the department spent $268 billion last year. I applaud President Trump’s plan to dismantle this rampant bureaucracy and return power to parents!”

Rep. Andy Harris: “The Department of Education has failed its mission because it is promoting everything EXCEPT reading, writing, and arithmetic. President Trump is returning education back to the states and giving power to parents and students.”

Rep. Mark Harris: “Despite endless taxpayer dollars being poured into the Department of Education, it has utterly failed its mission. Our education system has gotten worse. National test scores show that many students have been left behind. President Trump is right — the Department of Education must go. I promise to use every tool at my disposal to help him return the reins to parents and local teachers. They know what’s best for our nation’s children, not unelected bureaucrats in the Swamp. Let’s make education great again!”

Rep. Diana Harshbarger: “President Trump’s executive order directing the Secretary of Education to take all necessary steps to permanently close the Department of Education is HUGE. Something as important as our children’s education should be in the hands of states and parents—not the federal government—which has proven to be nothing more than a money pit with no positive effects on students!”

Rep. Erin Houchin: “President Trump’s executive order to scale down the federal Department of Education will return control of education to the states and local communities. This will empower parents and families to make decisions about students’ education rather than bureaucrats in Washington. The federal DOE has failed to deliver results for our students for decades. This order and legislation to follow will prioritize academic excellence, innovation, and parental choice and will reduce federal overreach in education. It is a win for families and the future of America’s students!”

Rep. John James: “It’s official: @POTUS has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education! Educational outcomes have been disastrous since the Department’s creation, and it’s time we fully returned the decision-making authority back to the states!”

Rep. Jim Jordan: “Democrats want federal bureaucrats to control your child’s school. Republicans want to give parents the choice to do what’s best for their children.”

Rep. Nancy Mace: “Thank you President Trump for returning education back to the states, where it belongs.”

Rep. Addison McDowell: “There it is – @realDonaldTrump delivering on yet another promise! Under the Department of Education’s watch, math and reading scores are at historic lows. It’s time for change. President Trump is putting children and parents first.”

Rep. Mary Miller: “Today is a historic day for students and parents across America. As a mother of seven homeschooled children, I applaud President Trump for completing his promise to dismantle the Department of Education and put parents back in control. For far too long, our students have been left behind by woke, unaccountable Washington bureaucrats and a bloated system failing them academically. Now, our country has the opportunity to expand educational freedom, increase opportunities for families, and unlock our full potential.”

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks: “For years, the DOE has pushed woke policies over merit, special interests over students. All while math and reading at grade level has plummeted. That era is over. States, local governments, and Iowa parents know our students’ needs better than DC bureaucrats. I remain committed to working with President Trump to advance education in America while ensuring FAFSA is reformed and Pell Grants are uninterrupted.”

Rep. Barry Moore: “President Trump continues to deliver on the promises he made to the American people. This is a massive step toward making the United States the standard in education on the world stage once again!”

Rep. Troy Nehls: “President Trump just signed an executive order to return power over education back to the states and families—where it belongs. Unelected bureaucrats should not have power over our children’s education. States and families should.”

Rep. Ralph Norman: “Say bye to overregulation and hello to STATES deciding what goes on in schools. Essential programs within the @usedgov will be maintained & efficiency will be restored!!”

Rep. Andy Ogles: “For far too long the Department of Education has been poisoning the minds of students by injecting woke, anti-America curriculum into our schools. It has overseen the sharpest decline in American literacy and international rankings. Thank you, @POTUS, for taking steps to dismantle the Dept. of Ed and hand education back to the states.”

Rep. Burgess Owens: “The Education Department was born out of a deal between President Carter and the teachers unions to hand education policy to a class of bureaucrats who care more about their own power than educating children. It’s time to put states in charge and parents in the driver’s seat.”

Rep. Scott Perry: “The Constitution provides no mandate for the federal government to be involved in education — for a reason. The responsibility of educating our children was rightfully entrusted to the States, and I support its return to them — while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which the American People rely. The Department of Education has spent TRILLIONS since 1980, without improving student achievement. Change is long overdue.”

Rep. August Pfluger: “We all want the same thing: a strong education system that puts the needs of our children first. Unfortunately, the Biden administration weaponized the Department of Education resulting in taxpayer funding for public schools being at an all-time high, while test scores are at an all-time low. Today’s executive order returns power to the states and parents to decide what goes on in schools.”

Rep. Chip Roy: “A VICTORY for students, teachers, and parents. A LOSS for union bosses and bureaucrats.”

Rep. Keith Self: “Groundbreaking news for every parent and student in America: Washington bureaucrats will no longer wield education authority and enact progressive social experiments on your children. Power over education is going back to YOUR state and to YOUR family! Thank you, President Trump for keeping your promise!”

Rep. Adrian Smith: “We owe it to American students to examine whether they are better off since the Department of Education’s inception more than a half-century ago. Just since 2000, federal spending has ballooned 649 percent while student proficiencies and the number of ED employees have declined. It’s clear such ineffectiveness is not worth such a monumental expense. Parents deserve a greater voice in the classroom, and the federal government should return this issue to the states.”

Rep. Dale Strong: “I’ve long supported abolishing the Department of Education to prioritize students over bureaucracy. President Trump took the first step today with his Executive Order to return decision-making power to the states and parents. I will work with him to make sure this gets done for our parents and kids.”

Rep. Greg Steube: “President Trump’s executive order was a great first step. Congress must follow @POTUS’ lead by abolishing the Department of Education once and for all.”

Rep. Marlin Stutzman: “The federalist system of government our country was founded upon gives states the distinct privilege to make laws that are best for their residents. When it comes to an issue as important as the education of our children, no one knows better than those closest to them. Unelected federal bureaucrats who have minimal knowledge of the real needs of the future generation have only wasted tax dollars and made the education our kids receive worse. President Trump and Secretary McMahon are putting education back to where it belongs – with our states.”

Rep. Tom Tiffany: “President Trump is returning control of education to parents & local communities. Washington bureaucrats have spent trillions since creating the Department of Ed, yet student achievement has declined. It’s time to give our children the education they need to succeed.”

Rep. William Timmons: “Under the Biden Administration, the Department of Education wasted more than $1 billion in grants focused on entrenching radical ideologies in education. Under President Trump’s administration, Taxpayers will no longer be burdened with progressive social experiments and obsolete programs.”

Rep. Randy Weber: “President Trump just put parents back in the driver’s seat on education! No more DC bureaucrats calling the shots—power is returning to the states where it belongs. A huge win for students, parents, and freedom!”

Rep. Daniel Webster: “President @realDonaldTrump is fighting to take education out of Washington bureaucrats hands and give it back to parents! @POTUS’s plan will cut waste, expand school choice, and put the education of America’s children first!”

Rep. Tim Walberg: “I was honored to be on hand as @realDonaldTrump empowers students, parents, and teachers over bureaucrats”

Rep. Rudy Yakym: “The Department of Education has failed its mission — spending more while student test scores don’t improve. Putting control back in the hands of states means putting parents back in charge and empowering families, teachers, and communities to create better opportunities for our kids’ futures.”

Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters: “For too long, the federal government has weaponized education, using it to push radical, leftist ideology while stripping parents of their rights and directing funds to union bosses President Trump’s executive order marks a pivotal moment in American history, the federal money grab ends today.”

Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera: “Virginians know best what Virginia students need and what works here in Virginia, and accordingly, we should be both responsible and accountable for results to the families of the Commonwealth. T he President’s Executive Order ensures that federal dollars will arrive in Virginia with less red tape and bureaucracy and allow the State Board of Education, Virginia Department of Education, and local school divisions to invest those resources in the most efficient and effective ways that lead to the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes.”

Virginia Board of Education President Grace Creasey: “President Trump’s executive order to return education leadership to the states empowers parents and reduces federal overreach. For too long, bureaucrats in Washington have dictated one-size-fits-all policies that fail to address the unique needs of the Commonwealth’s students and schools. Returning decision-making authority and funding to the states can foster innovation, accountability, and better educational outcomes. This is about putting parents and state and local leaders back in charge of education.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton: “I’m proud to stand with @POTUS as he returns education back to the states and empowers parents and students, not federal bureaucrats.”

America First Policy Institute Chair Erika Donalds: “President Trump’s bold action to return control of education to states and local communities marks a pivotal moment for American families. … By eliminating federal overreach in education, we can foster an environment where innovation thrives, parents have greater choice, and students receive the high-quality education they deserve. This move will allow states to tailor educational approaches to their unique needs, free from one-size-fits-all federal mandates, and voters can hold their state and local elected officials accountable for the resulting academic outcomes.”

Heritage Foundation President Dr. Kevin Roberts: “From the moment it was created, the Department of Education was a mistake. It was founded on the false premise that unelected bureaucrats in Washington know better than parents and local communities when it comes to educating children. For decades, it has funneled billions of taxpayer dollars into a failing system—one that prioritizes leftist indoctrination over academic excellence, all while student achievement stagnates and America falls further behind. As a fifth-generation educator—a professor, college president, and founder of a classical school—I’ve seen firsthand what actually works: empowering parents, keeping decision-making at the local level, and ensuring that funding follows students, not bureaucracies. Now, President Trump is once again proving he keeps his promises. He’s putting America first, restoring common sense, and dismantling the bloated, ideological bureaucracies that have hollowed out our institutions—starting with the Department of Education.”

Center for Education Policy Director Lindsey Burke: “This is a tremendous step toward restoring education control to states, localities, and parents … Since the Department’s creation in 1980, inflation-adjusted federal education spending has more than doubled, yet student learning outcomes have remained flat, achievement gaps have persisted, and college prices have soared. Federal bureaucrats’ central planning cannot compare to the expertise that parents have about the needs of their own children. I applaud the Trump administration for taking steps to finally bring the agency’s closure to fruition.”

Discovery Institute’s American Center for Transforming Education Senior Fellow Dr. Keri D. Ingraham: “With today’s executive order, President Trump is delivering on his promise to the American people to dismantle the ineffective and bureaucracy-ridden U.S. Department of Education and return education to the states where it rightfully belongs. It is a historic day in our nation that takes us one step closer to the goal of education freedom for all families nationwide.”

ACE Scholarships CEO Norton Rainey: “Education should be focused on our children. But too often, it’s hijacked by special interests and those more concerned with advancing their own agendas than serving the best interests of students. For 40 years, the Department of Education’s K-12 efforts have been, at best, a wasteful distraction. It’s time for a new approach that puts children first by increasing choice and empowering parents instead of Washington bureaucrats.”

American Federation for Children CEO Tommy Schultz: “With this executive order, President Trump continues taking steps to fulfill his campaign promises on education, and now it is time for Congress to send school choice legislation to his desk so that he can fulfill his other mandate to the voters. As soon as President Trump signs this executive order directing the end of the federal Department of Education, and later signs the Educational Choice for Children Act into law, he will have both brought down a failed bureaucratic machine in DC, and brought school choice to every state.”

American Principles Project President Terry Schilling: “The Department of Education has drastically failed its core mission. Instead of improving student outcomes, it has become a bloated bureaucratic mess that wastes billions of tax dollars and has been weaponized by the far left to inject DEI and radical gender ideology into classrooms and sports fields across this country. As a dad who had to pull his kids out of public schools because of horrific educational outcomes, harmful ideology, and rejection of all parental input, I know first-hand the damage that our failing schools have on our kids. We cannot continue down the path we’ve been on for the last 50 years – it’s insanity. I am very thankful that President Trump recognizes the Department’s shortcomings and is going to dismantle this ineffective agency.”

Defense of Freedom Institute: “The Department’s rules and burdens have hurt, not helped, students. Despite spending $3 trillion over 45 years, the Department has overseen the cratering of academic progress and achievement in the United States. We applaud President Trump and Secretary McMahon for their continued commitment to enforcing our civil rights laws and funding for low-income students and students with disabilities.”

American Legislative Exchange Council CEO Lisa B. Nelson: “President Trump’s bold vision to shrink the federal bureaucracy within the Department of Education and restore authority to the states marks a long-overdue return of constitutional order. This is the natural, unstoppable evolution of the parental empowerment movement sparked amid the pandemic lockdowns. The states are ready for it, and they’ve been clamoring for it. This executive order is a fundamental step forward in the American education revolution. We fully support President Trump’s leadership in eliminating wasteful, bureaucratic mandates that push political agendas and divert taxpayer funds away from students. By putting the states back in charge of this funding, students, families, and teachers will be put first – rather than the bloated bureaucracy in Washington, DC.”

Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron Withe: “The Department of Education has failed America’s children, parents, and communities for more than four decades. … Our Founders understood that decisions about how to education children are best made by those closest to them—parents, local educators, and community leaders who understand their unique needs and values. By eliminating this unnecessary federal department, we have the opportunity to free states and local districts from burdensome regulations and finally shrink the excessive power of teachers unions.”

The Center for Education Reform: “This long-overdue shift empowers parents, educators, and local communities – those who truly understand the needs of students – to lead the way in shaping the future of education.”

Moms for Liberty: “President Trump is taking important steps to restore education to where it should be: in the hands of educators who are closest to students in their classrooms across the country.”

Independent Women’s Forum Senior Legal Analyst Inez Stepman: “Starting the process to shutting down the Department of Education is the beginning of the end of an error. … The big sum of money that paid these bureaucrats and their six-figure salaries will now flow back to state education systems, where it can be used for what the American people think of as education: for students, teachers, and classrooms.”

Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Christopher Rufo: “This is the culmination of a long campaign. Republicans have promised to abolish the Department of Education for almost fifty years, but only President Trump is getting it done. An incredible moment in history.”

School Choice Activist Corey DeAngelis: “Make Education Great Again.”

## Related

- ### Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Empowers Parents, States, and Communities to Improve Education Outcomes

  Fact Sheets
  March 20, 2025

- ### Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities

  Presidential Actions, Executive Orders
  March 20, 2025

- ### Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Expands Educational Opportunities for American Families

  Fact Sheets
  January 30, 2025

- ### President Trump’s Bold Trade Action Draws Praise

  Articles
  April 2, 2025

- ### Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Reinstates Commonsense School Discipline Policies

  Fact Sheets
  April 23, 2025

Notifications