Some Republicans in Congress are already deeply skeptical they’ll be able to pass legislation codifying President Donald Trump’s attempt to dismantle the Department of Education, even as other members begin to introduce bills to do so.
Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to start the process to “eliminate” the Education Department, a long sought-after Republican dream. However, even Trump recognized nixing the department would likely require an act of Congress.
Two members have already announced they’re working on legislation related to Trump’s executive order. Rep. Michael Rulli, who was at the signing ceremony for the executive order, told Fox News Digital he plans to “introduce legislation to codify the President’s agenda into law, ensuring that these essential reforms to our children’s education cannot be undone by future administrations.”
Additionally, Sen. Mike Rounds told Fox News Digital he plans to re-introduce his legislation eliminating the department.
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However, some members want the administration to lay out a clear plan before they can commit to voting for any such legislation. And even then, many have a hard time seeing how it ultimately gets through to the president’s desk.
“I’ll wait till we see their proposal,” Rep. Don Bacon told NOTUS when asked if he would support a bill eliminating the department. “Some functions must continue, like impact aid. I think Pell Grants as well. The administration will need to show how they will get the necessary tasks done and what savings will be made by the taxpayer. We can then evaluate.”
He added that Democrats are “fibbing by saying the removal of the Ed Department means the end of federal money. That is not the case. But the administration will need to show this will work.”
Another Republican member echoed Bacon’s sentiment, saying they need to see a plan for the future of the federal money. “Are we getting it to the states,” they asked. “To the schools?”
And yet another House GOP member said they “first want to know where the money goes” before committing to voting for a bill to eliminate the Department of Education.
“And if it is back to the states, I don’t know if I trust California to do any better than the feds,” this member added.
Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications at the Department of Education, told NOTUS the administration intends to work with Congress.
“As President Trump and Secretary McMahon have made clear, sunsetting the Department of Education will be done in partnership with Congress and national and state leaders to ensure all statutorily required programs are managed responsibly and where they best serve students and families,” she said in a statement.
Some Congressional Republicans believe that even if the administration were to lay out a plan, there would be no chance it would ever become law.
“I’m for it, but no,” Rep. Tim Burchett told NOTUS when asked if he believed such legislation could make it through Congress. “We don’t have the guts to do what’s right.”
House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ralph Norman said that a bill eliminating the Department of Education could pass Congress only if Trump and the public get involved in pressuring holdouts.
“THE ELIMINATION OF THE DOE WILL PASS CONGRESS IF TWO EVENTS OCCUR: THE PUBLIC WILL BE ‘OUTRAGED’ WHEN THE AMOUNT OF WASTED TAX DOLLARS ARE FINALLY REVEALED AND IF ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ BECOME ENGAGED AND VOCAL!!” Norman texted NOTUS. “2nd, IF PRESIDENT TRUMP TAKES ACTION AGAINST ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO OPOSES THE DOE ELIMINATION!!”
Others believe Trump’s pressure can only go so far. Any legislation must go through the Senate, which has a 60-vote threshold to advance most bills, meaning Democrats would have to vote for it.
“I hope they’re going to be voting for it because ultimately, it may come before them,” Trump said Thursday of Democrats in the Senate.
But despite Trump’s hopes, Democrats won’t be voting to shut down the Department of Education.
One senior GOP House aide said that whether or not it gets through the House “depends on if the mods can vote for it.” However, they were blunt that the bill is “never going to the president/passes senate” because of the 60-vote threshold.
A senior GOP Senate aide put it more directly.
“No,” the aide said when asked if such legislation could pass the Senate. “It’s a 60-vote threshold.”
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Reese Gorman is a reporter at NOTUS.
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