Trump’s Executive Order Sparks Education Uproar

Senator Jim Banks has ignited a firestorm in Washington by demanding Congress support President Trump’s push to abolish the Department of Education—a move that could finally return power and taxpayer dollars to the states where they belong.

Story Snapshot

• Sen. Banks urges Congress to scrap the Department of Education and shift control back to states
• President Trump’s executive order starts dismantling the federal agency, fulfilling a major campaign promise
• Legislation is currently in committee, with heavy pressure on congressional Republicans to act
• Debate centers on federal overreach, local control, and the future of education funding

Banks, Trump, and the Conservative Crusade to End Federal Education Overreach

Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) is not mincing words. At a recent Breitbart News policy forum, Banks called for immediate action from his fellow Republicans: “We should eliminate and abolish the department and make these cuts permanent and let states keep that money instead of sending it to Washington.” This isn’t just red meat for the conservative base—this is the culmination of decades of frustration with an out-of-touch, bloated federal bureaucracy that has failed to improve our schools, wasted billions, and imposed top-down mandates that have nothing to do with the needs of local communities or the values of American families.

Sen. Banks Challenges Congress to Scrap Education Dept https://t.co/X9163nmHvs

— Elena (@helen44767171) July 31, 2025

President Trump, true to his word, wasted no time after returning to the White House. Early in 2025, he signed an executive order to begin the long-overdue process of dismantling the Department of Education—a relic from the Carter era that’s been a thorn in the side of local school districts, taxpayers, and anyone who believes in the Constitution’s Tenth Amendment. Trump’s move isn’t just symbolic. Senate Republicans, spearheaded by Banks, Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), introduced the “Returning Education to Our States Act” in April, formally setting the wheels in motion to abolish the agency and send control—and billions in funding—back to the states.

Why Conservatives Are Fed Up with Federal Control

The Department of Education was created in 1979, supposedly to improve national education standards. What we’ve gotten instead is decades of federal meddling, one-size-fits-all mandates, and a bureaucracy that eats up resources while national test scores flatline. Conservatives have warned for years that centralizing control in Washington breeds inefficiency, waste, and a dangerous disregard for the unique needs of states and local communities. Banks, Trump, and a growing chorus of Republican lawmakers are now making good on their promise to do something about it, arguing that the federal government has no business dictating what happens in local classrooms.

Proponents of the plan point to the abysmal results of decades of federal oversight—ballooning costs, stagnant outcomes, and an education system that increasingly pushes political agendas over real learning. Banks and Trump see this as a chance to restore common sense, constitutional governance, and let parents and teachers, not bureaucrats, decide what’s best for kids. The message: Let’s end the federal gravy train, keep that money in our states, and finally put control where it belongs—back home.

How the Battle Is Playing Out in Congress

The Returning Education to Our States Act is currently under committee review, with no floor vote scheduled yet. This is where the rubber meets the road. The Department of Education was created by statute, so abolishing it requires Congress to act. Trump’s executive order set the stage, but without legislative follow-through, the department’s bureaucrats will keep chugging along, burning through tax dollars and pushing their mandates on every corner of the country.

Banks and his allies are ramping up the pressure on congressional Republicans, making it clear that this is a defining issue for the party. Do they stand with Trump and the millions of Americans who want to end federal interference in education? Or will they cave to the predictable hysteria from Democrats, teachers’ unions, and advocacy groups desperate to protect their federal funding streams and top-down control? The stakes could not be higher—for the future of education, for parental rights, and for the integrity of the Constitution.

What Happens If the Department Is Finally Abolished?

If Congress follows through, the impact will be seismic. States will take full responsibility for education policy and funding. That means more local control, more flexibility, and an end to Washington’s one-size-fits-all mandates. Critics warn this could lead to a patchwork of standards and possible disparities. Still, supporters counter that local autonomy will foster innovation, efficiency, and accountability—things the federal government has failed to deliver for decades.

Teachers, parents, and students will feel the effects. Some federal programs could face disruption, and states will need to step up to ensure a smooth transition. But the long-term payoff could be enormous: less waste, more responsiveness, and a system that reflects the values of the communities it serves. For taxpayers sick of watching their money funneled into a bottomless federal pit, it’s about time.