Three Republican senators introduced legislation to eliminate the Department of Education. The bill would effectively codify President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to abolish the agency.

Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Bernie Moreno (R-OH) introduced the bill on Thursday to “terminate the Department of Education.” Its final day would be Dec. 31, 2026, according to the proposed legislation. 

It is the third time Paul has introduced a bill to end the Education Department. Previously, the senator from Kentucky proposed similar legislation in 2020 and 2021. He also aimed for a “broader effort to reform” the nation’s public education system with another bill he previously introduced, the Support Children Having Open Opportunities for Learning, or SCHOOL, Act. 

“This legislation allows federal education funds to follow students, regardless of whether they are homeschooled or attend public, private, or charter schools,” a release noted about Paul’s proposed SCHOOL Act. 

The three senators explained their reasons for wanting to close the Education Department.

“There is no constitutional role for the federal government in education, and returning power to the states will empower parents, cut red tape, and give our students the opportunity to receive the best possible education,” said Moreno. “After over 4 decades of Republicans promising to abolish the Department of Education, President Trump and Senate Republicans are finally delivering. This was a key part of what I campaigned on, and I’m proud to join Senator Paul and my colleagues on this long-overdue legislation.”

“In the 45 years since the Department of Education was established, the quality of American public schooling has declined, the cost of college has skyrocketed, and parents and students have come second to administrators and unions,” Lee explained. “Congress should end this unconstitutional federal intrusion into American education and usher in a renaissance of school choice, parental rights, and academic achievement.”

“For too long, Washington bureaucrats have imposed a uniform approach to education, stifling innovation and limiting parental choice,” Paul said. “It’s time to empower families and local leaders to make the best decisions for their students, rather than relying on out-of-touch federal regulators.” 

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO KEY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS IF TRUMP SHUTS IT DOWN

Critics of the Education Department have regularly highlighted the significant amount of taxpayer funds spent on students, which is among the highest in the world. However, the academic performance of the nation’s students is inferior to that of students in other countries. The senators believe their proposal to dismantle the Education Department is the first step in reforming national education and putting the country’s students on a level playing field regarding scholastic performance.

The proposed bill commits to “decentralization and individual freedom, aiming for a high-quality education free from federal interference,” the release noted.