The Trump Administration has made significant progress over the past year toward reducing the Department of Education’s influence over public education and returning greater authority to the states. Under the leadership of Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the Department has reduced its workforce by nearly half, redirected approximately $3 billion in grants for “woke” programs, and relocated the agency to a smaller headquarters. By reducing the federal government’s role in education, parents gain greater authority and responsibility to direct their children’s education. These positive reforms, however, are continually under attack even in a Republican-led Congress.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee moved forward a bill that baffled conservatives. Despite Republicans holding a majority of the committee’s members, they voted to advance a bill aimed at preventing the dismantling of the Department of Education. On July 30th, the committee held a markup on Sen. Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) bill to prohibit the Department of Education from moving functions to more appropriate agencies in order to downsize. (S. 5046). The bill would maintain the status quo so that Trump’s promise to eliminate the Department cannot move forward.
For example, the college student loan program was previously maintained by the Department of Education. Because the Biden administration terminated all contracts with private vendors, the Department had total control over the $1.7 trillion student loan portfolio. The Department did not have the infrastructure to handle the coordination of current loans along with the effort to contact nine million borrowers who were in default. Earlier this year, the Department of Education announced an interagency partnership with the Department of the Treasury because Treasury already contains the databases used for loan eligibility and is better equipped to collect outstanding debts.
Perhaps the most controversial move has been the Department of Education’s partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to administer special education programs. HHS already controls a wide range of programs that support individuals with disabilities, including federal health insurance programs such as Medicaid, Head Start, Centers for Independent Living, and the Administration on Disabilities. These programs provide essential services ranging from early intervention to promoting independent living and full participation in community life and the workforce.
This interagency agreement between HHS and Education allows these services to be coordinated through a more holistic approach that better meets the needs of individuals with disabilities throughout their lives. Greater collaboration between the agencies would streamline access to support, reduce duplication of services, and spare families from navigating multiple bureaucracies, completing redundant paperwork, or shuttling between two separate federal agencies to obtain the resources they need.
The Left has fearmongered over these partnerships by suggesting that services will be cut and people will not get the services they need. Yet, they turn a blind eye to the damage that the Department of Education has already caused. The Department was instrumental in pushing gender ideology in schools, encouraging boys to be allowed in girls’ bathrooms, advocating for men in women’s sports, pushing curricula that made children as young a 4-years-old question their biology, and instituting public school lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have become institutions designed to push political agendas rather than teaching basic education skills, which has resulted in failing test scores for decades.
During the markup of S. 5046, Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Jim Banks (R-IN) submitted amendments to defund and eliminate the Department of Education — a longtime priority of Eagle Forum’s. Unfortunately, votes were not taken on those amendments. The Senate HELP Committee passed S. 5046 with bipartisan support. Fortunately, we have gotten word that Senate Leadership has no intention of moving it to a floor vote.
For now, the plans to continue to dismantle the Department of Education are continuing, and despite all of the alarmists, kids are still heading to school this month. President Trump and the First Lady are getting into the school spirit themselves. They published a back-to-school letter to all American students encouraging them to “dream big” and “work hard.”
The Golden Age of America relies upon your tremendous leadership, commitment, and character… Please know, as President, I am fighting every day to strengthen your school, make your community safer, and create new opportunities for your future so you can build your own unique American Dream.
Near the end of the letter, he welcomes students to write to the White House to highlight the work they are doing in their schools and communities.
Additionally, Second Lady Usha Vance will soon be wrapping up her Summer Reading Challenge in which students can submit their reading log for prizes and a chance to win a trip to Washington, D.C.
Eagle Forum has many opportunities throughout the year for students to learn about American history and engage in civics education. From September 24-26 in Nashville, Tennessee, our annual Eagle Council will feature specific events geared towards students. They will get the opportunity to tour Andrew Jackson’s home at The Hermitage, network with other young conservatives, and sit under nationally known experts on current issues facing American families. To learn more about Eagle Council and how to receive a student discount, visit our website here.
With sincere gratitude, I have come to the end of my summer internship with Eagle Forum. I am deeply thankful for all the opportunities that have been given to me during my time here. Looking back, I have come so far since the beginning of the summer and learned so much from accompanying Eagle Forum President Kris Ullman and Executive Director Tabitha Walter. Mrs. Walter walked me through many policy issues and how Eagle Forum confronts them. I learned how to track bills, research important issues, and write persuasively. We discussed the reconciliation process, the National Defense Reauthorization Act (NDAA- H.R.8800), the Kill Switch, Mexico City Policy, the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R.2), surrogacy and IVF, and so much more!
I was also given one of the great Phyllis Schlafly books, A Choice Not An Echo, to read. Fittingly, I finished her book on July 4th, the day that celebrates a government system that is modeled around our God-given rights. Mrs. Schlafly flings open the closet door that hid the scandals and terrible failures of past administrations in their rebellion against the Founders’ original design. I found her book insightful and interesting, and as a reminder to challenge and not trust the exterior appearance. She highlights the power and necessity of the grassroots voice in the building of America’s future. Mrs. Schlafly ends with a renewed mission for the grassroots organizations and conservatives to learn from the past mistakes of American politics and focus on American first motions.
Once again, I am thankful for all that Eagle Forum has poured into me and that they have given me their precious time. My prayer is that God continues to work through Eagle Forum and bless their work to uphold His principles in the laws of our great nation.
In Christ,
Layna DeFeo
