WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) introduced the Department of Education Protection Act as her first piece of legislation of the 119th Congress. The bill would shield the U.S. Department of Education from efforts to dismantle the agency and ensure every student receives the free and appropriate public education they deserve.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter oversaw the creation of the modern U.S. Department of Education, an accomplishment hailed as a hallmark of his legacy after his death. The Department is vital for providing equal educational opportunity for all and protecting the rights of students and educators.
During the first Trump Presidency, the Administration sought to underfund, reorganize, and through executive actions urge the downsizing of the Department. These efforts were revitalized during the 2024 campaign as President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly vowed to "close" the agency if he regained the White House. Amidst these threats, several members of the House of Representatives and Senate have led legislation to abolish and defund the education agency.
“Public education is a right – any efforts to compromise the integrity of our education system would be a grave disservice to the nearly 50 million public school students and the entire nation,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “Given the troubling rhetoric around public education from the incoming Administration, it felt necessary that my first bill of the 119th Congress be to safeguard this federal pillar. I am leading the Department of Education Protection Act to impede any attempts to shrink federal education resources or restructure the agency. Instead of depleting the agency of its resources, we must invest in its ability to promote student achievement, foster education excellence, and ensure equal access.”
Specifically, the Department of Education Protection Act would prohibit the use of appropriated funds to be used to decentralize, reduce the staffing level of, or alter the responsibilities, structure, authority, or functionality of the Department of Education. This bill also emphasizes the importance of maintaining the current organization of the Department of Education and reiterates the fundamental role of Congress in shaping and reshaping the agency.
The Department of Education Protection Act has been cosponsored by Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Dina Titus (NV-01), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02)
Full bill text can be found here, and one-pager here.