Rep. Thomas Massie has proposed that Republicans might consider dismantling the Department of Education (DOE) if they gain control of both Congress and the White House this November. In an interview with Fox News Digital, the Kentucky Republican expressed that the likelihood of such a move would largely depend on the composition of Congress and the appointments made to key positions in the administration.
Massie’s comments followed an interview where former President Donald Trump echoed a similar sentiment. Trump, in a discussion with X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk, emphasized his intention to close the DOE and return educational authority to the states. “I want to shut down the Department of Education and move education back to the states,” Trump stated.
Massie, who introduced legislation last year aiming to abolish the DOE, noted that his bill has garnered support from over 30 House GOP members, including prominent Trump allies like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Byron Donalds. Although Massie has not directly discussed the bill with Trump or his campaign, he mentioned that the topic is frequently discussed among Trump-aligned Republicans. This indicates that the push to eliminate the DOE, a long-standing goal of conservatives, could gain momentum if Trump and Republicans secure power in Washington.
Established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, the DOE was created to oversee federal student aid and enforce equal access to education. Despite initial conservative opposition, including threats from President Ronald Reagan to dissolve the department, it has persisted. Massie argued that the DOE’s budget and its 14,000 employees in Washington, D.C., could be better utilized by channeling those resources directly to schools, reducing bureaucratic overhead.
The debate over the DOE is not new; Reagan advocated for its elimination, though he did not succeed. Massie believes that the concept of abolishing the DOE should not be considered radical but rather a return to a more localized approach to education. He also noted that other aspects of education policy, like student nutrition and early childhood programs, fall under different departments such as Agriculture and Health and Human Services.
While over 160 Republicans supported Massie’s amendment to dismantle the DOE in March 2023, it ultimately failed. Nonetheless, the discussion around the DOE remains a contentious issue, with critics labeling the proposal as part of a far-right agenda, especially following its inclusion in Project 2025, a Heritage Foundation initiative for a future Republican administration.
Massie, however, distanced himself from Project 2025, asserting that his push to eliminate the DOE predates the initiative. He emphasized that organizations like the Heritage Foundation and FreedomWorks have long advocated for this change, reflecting a broader conservative desire to reduce federal control over education. Massie also expressed support for former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who has previously championed phasing out the department she once led.
The Trump campaign, while not directly addressing Massie’s bill, affirmed Trump’s commitment to reducing the DOE’s role and returning educational decisions to local authorities. They highlighted Trump’s ongoing pledge to reform a system that he and many conservatives believe has failed American students for too long.