President Donald Trump’s historic executive order to dismantle the Department of Education is gaining momentum in Congress as Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) prepares to introduce formal legislation to finish the job. This bold action marks a major milestone in the conservative fight to return control of education to the states, eliminate bloated federal bureaucracy, and end decades of Washington meddling in America’s classrooms.
Trump’s Executive Order: A Milestone in Conservative Reform
On March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, citing decades of failure, wasteful spending, and federal overreach into classrooms across the country. The order calls for the transfer of power to states, school boards, and parents, putting an end to the federal government’s control over local education.
While the order begins the process of shutting down the department, Congressional approval is required to permanently abolish it, as the department was created through legislation in 1979.
Sen. Bill Cassidy Steps Up
Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the powerful Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, quickly endorsed Trump’s plan and announced he is preparing to introduce legislation to officially eliminate the department.
“I agree with President Trump that the Department of Education has failed its mission,” Cassidy said. “I intend to file legislation to help bring this bureaucratic failure to an end and return education to where it belongs—with our states and parents.”
Cassidy’s support is crucial. As chairman of the Senate committee overseeing education, his leadership gives the bill immediate credibility and influence within the chamber.
House Republicans Join the Fight
Momentum is building in the House as well. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced a bill that would terminate the Department of Education by the end of 2026, stating plainly, “There is no constitutional authority for the federal government to be involved in education.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) is drafting the “Make Education Great Again Act”, a direct response to Trump’s executive order. His bill aims to cement parental rights, eliminate DEI-style federal mandates, and return curriculum decisions to states and localities.
The Challenge: Getting Through the Senate
While Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate, abolishing a federal department may require 60 votes to break a filibuster, unless Republicans pursue an aggressive budget reconciliation strategy to bypass Senate rules.
Even so, public pressure is mounting, especially among parents who are fed up with federal interference, woke curriculum, and cratering student performance—despite the Department’s massive $79 billion annual budget.
Left-Wing Outrage and Union Panic
Predictably, Democrats, teachers’ unions, and the education establishment are in full meltdown. The National Education Association (NEA) is warning that dismantling the department could impact programs for vulnerable students and low-income communities—conveniently ignoring that federal control has failed those very groups for decades.
Polls suggest that Democrat-aligned institutions are out of step with voters, as support for school choice, parental rights, and local control continues to rise—particularly after years of lockdown-era learning loss and progressive indoctrination exposed during the pandemic.
Why This Matters
Abolishing the Department of Education is not just a budget move—it’s a battle over who controls your child’s education: parents and communities, or unelected ideologues in Washington.
Trump and conservatives are sending a clear message: education is a local issue, and the federal government has no business dictating what children learn. With the groundwork now laid by the executive order, and legislation on the way, the fight is officially underway.
If Republicans succeed, this will be one of the most significant rollbacks of federal power in modern history—and a monumental victory for school freedom, parental rights, and American values.