I want to close up Department of Education, move education back to the states where, states like Iowa, where states like Idaho… I'll bet you'd have 30, 35 states that'll be much better. And you know what it'll cost? Less than half what it is in Washington.
Stated position. What this official has said they believe on this issue — a sourced claim, shown distinctly from any assessment of what they did. It is never scored and never affects the Integrity Score.
Derived from a tracked promise: “I want to close up Department of Education, move education back to the states where, states like Iowa, where states like Idaho… I'll bet you…”
Sources
“The bill raises the tax rate from 1.4% to as high as 8%, depending on the college's endowment.”
- Federal Register (GovInfo), Executive Order 14190https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-02-03/html/2025-02232.htm ↗
“Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall establish the 1776 Commission in the Department of Education.”
“I want to close up Department of Education, move education back to the states… I'll bet you'd have 30, 35 states that'll be much better. And you know what it'll cost? Less than half what it is in Washington.”
- The American Presidency Project — 2024 Republican Party Platformhttps://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2024-republican-party-platform ↗
“Republicans believe families should be empowered to choose the best Education for their children. We support Universal School Choice in every State in America.”
“We want federal education dollars to follow the student, rather than propping up a bloated and radical bureaucracy in Washington, D.C.”
- Federal Register (GovInfo), Executive Order 14191https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-02-03/html/2025-02233.htm ↗
“The Secretary of Education shall issue guidance regarding how States can use Federal formula funds to support K-12 educational choice initiatives.”
“Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, individual taxpayers may claim a nonrefundable federal tax credit for cash contributions to SGOs.”
- FactBase / Roll Callhttps://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-vlog-ten-principles-for-great-schools-and-jobs-agenda47-september-13-2023/ ↗
“One thing I'll be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and sending all education and education work and needs back to the states.”
- White House (Executive Order 14242)https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/improving-education-outcomes-by-empowering-parents-states-and-communities/ ↗
“take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities”
- U.S. Department of Educationhttps://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-six-new-agency-partnerships-break-federal-bureaucracy ↗
“The Trump Administration is taking bold action to break up the federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states.”
“The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that it would allow the Trump administration to resume dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.”
- P2016.org (Millennial Policy Speech transcript)https://p2016.org/trump/trump101316sp.html ↗
“if borrowers work hard and make their full payments for 15 years, we will let them get on with their lives”
- The American Presidency Projecthttps://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-the-renaissance-hotel-columbus-ohio ↗
“if borrowers work hard and make their full payments for 15 years, we will let them get on with their lives”
- U.S. Department of Education (FY 2018 Budget Summary)https://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/budget18/summary/18summary.pdf ↗
“For borrowers with undergraduate student debt only, any balance remaining after 15 years of repayment would be forgiven.”
- U.S. Department of Education (June 9, 2026 fact sheet)https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/fact-sheet-trump-administration-simplifying-student-loan-repayment ↗
“Yes, in limited scenarios where borrowers still have a remaining student loan balance after making 360 monthly, on-time payments.”
“monthly payments are capped at 12.5 percent of income”
- P2016.org (speech transcript archive)https://www.p2016.org/trump/trump090816sp.html ↗
“My first budget will immediately add an additional federal investment of $20 billion towards school choice. This will be done by reprioritizing existing federal dollars.”
- U.S. Department of Educationhttps://www.ed.gov/sites/ed/files/about/overview/budget/budget18/budget-factsheet.pdf ↗
“The FY 2018 Budget offers $1.4 billion toward new public and private school choice opportunities, enabling more students an equal opportunity for a great education”
“Under the plan I'm announcing today, we will take the billions and billions of dollars that we will collect by taxing, fining and suing excessively large private university endowments and we will then use that money to endow a new institution called the American Academy. Its mission will be to make a truly world class education available to every American free of charge and do it without adding a single dime to the federal debt.”
- U.S. Code (Office of the Law Revision Counsel), 26 U.S.C. 4968https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title26-section4968&num=0&edition=prelim ↗
“8 percent in the case of an institution with a student adjusted endowment in excess of $2,000,000”
- Inside Higher Edhttps://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2023/05/04/trump-pledges-fire-radical-left-college-accreditors ↗
“Our secret weapon will be the college accreditation system. It's called accreditation for a reason. The accreditors are supposed to ensure that schools are not ripping off students and taxpayers, but they have failed totally. Colleges have gotten hundreds of billions from hardworking taxpayers, and now we are going to get this anti-American insanity out of our institutions once and for all.”
- The College Fixhttps://www.thecollegefix.com/bulletin-board/in-new-video-trump-pledges-to-fire-radical-left-accreditors-to-reform-higher-ed/ ↗
“When I return to the White House I will fire the radical left accreditors that have allowed our colleges to become dominated by Marxist maniacs and lunatics.”
- White House (Executive Order 14279)https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/reforming-accreditation-to-strengthen-higher-education/ ↗
“resume recognizing new accreditors to increase competition and accountability in promoting high-quality, high-value academic programs”
- U.S. Department of Educationhttps://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-reaches-consensus-reform-and-strengthen-americas-higher-education-accreditation-system ↗
“Negotiators reached consensus on several key changes, including reducing barriers for emerging accreditors that will bring increased competition”
- The American Presidency Project (RNC Acceptance Speech)https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-accepting-the-presidential-nomination-the-republican-national-convention-cleveland ↗
“We are going to work with all of our students who are drowning in debt to take the pressure off these young people just starting out their adult lives.”
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysishttps://www.bea.gov/help/faq/1407 ↗
“The Act provided for the suspension of all payments due on certain categories of federally-held student loans beginning on March 13, 2020.”
- The White House (archived)https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-continued-student-loan-payment-relief-covid-19-pandemic/ ↗
“temporary cessation of payments and the waiver of all interest on student loans held by the Department of Education until December 31, 2020”
- U.S. Department of Educationhttps://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-departments-of-education-and-treasury-release-joint-fact-sheet-historic-education-freedom-tax-credit ↗
“receive a credit of up to $1,700 for contributions made to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs)”
- The White Househttps://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/expanding-educational-freedom-and-opportunity-for-families/ ↗
“the Secretary of Education shall issue guidance regarding how States can use Federal formula funds to support K-12 educational choice initiatives”
- The American Presidency Projecthttps://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-announcing-candidacy-for-president-new-york-city ↗
“We have to stop Common Core. We must keep education local and under parental control. Unelected Washington bureaucrats shouldn't determine what is best for our children.”
“She told the audience that national education reform efforts, including No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top and the Common Core, 'have not worked as hoped.'”
- Federal Register (GovInfo)https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2017-05-01/pdf/2017-08905.pdf ↗
“It shall be the policy of the executive branch to protect and preserve State and local control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, and personnel of educational institutions, schools, and school systems”
- California Department of Educationhttps://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/ ↗
“Since 2010, a number of states across the nation have adopted the same standards for English and math. These standards are called the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).”
- U.S. Department of Educationhttps://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-issues-final-rule-create-new-workforce-pell-grant-program ↗
“Beginning on July 1, 2026, students will be able to receive Pell Grants for enrollment in high-quality, short-term educational programs that prepare them for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand jobs.”
“Few programs qualify for new Workforce Pell Grants”
- my529 (Utah's official 529 plan)https://my529.org/2025/07/federal-changes-to-qualified-education-expenses/ ↗
“H.R. 1 expands the definition of qualified education expenses for K-12 beyond only tuition to also include books, materials, testing fees, dual enrollment fees, educational therapies and tutoring costs.”
- 26 U.S.C. 529 (U.S. Code, Cornell Legal Information Institute)https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/529 ↗
“expenses in connection with enrollment or attendance at, or for students enrolled at or attending, an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school”
“President Trump will reinstate the 1776 Commission...to ensure America's children learn the truth about their country's history. President Trump will veto any effort to weaponize or nationalize civics education. And he will create a credentialing body to certify teachers who embrace patriotic values and support the American Way of Life.”
- U.S. Department of Educationhttps://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-releases-secretary-mcmahons-patriotic-education-supplemental-priority ↗
“It is imperative to promote an education system that teaches future generations honestly about America's Founding principles, political institutions, and rich history.”
- PolitiFact MAGA Meterhttps://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/maga-meter-tracking-donald-trumps-2024-promises/promise/1654/abolish-teacher-tenure-for-grades-k-12/article/3254/ ↗
“implement funding preferences and favorable treatment for states and school districts that abolish teacher tenure for grades K-12, adopt Merit Pay to reward good teachers”
- Federal Register (GovInfo), U.S. Department of Education Final Prioritieshttps://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-09-09/html/2025-17310.htm ↗
“The Department of Education (Department) announces three priorities and related definitions for use in currently authorized discretionary grant programs or programs that may be authorized in the future.”
- FactBase / Roll Call — Trump Vlog: Homeschool Pledge (Agenda47)https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-vlog-homeschool-pledge-agenda47-september-14-2023/ ↗
“I will immediately fight to allow homeschool parents the same incredible benefit, $10,000 a year per child, completely tax free to spend on costs associated with homeschool education.”
- PolitiFact MAGA Meterhttps://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/maga-meter-tracking-donald-trumps-2024-promises/promise/1653/provide-10000-per-child-tax-free-to-homeschoolers/article/3211/ ↗
“$10,000 a year per child, completely tax free to spend on costs associated with homeschool education.”
- U.S. Code (Office of the Law Revision Counsel), 26 U.S.C. 529https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title26-section529&num=0&edition=prelim ↗
“elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school”
- Internal Revenue Servicehttps://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc313 ↗
“expenses in connection with a designated beneficiary's enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school are limited up to a total amount of $20,000 per year”
- PolitiFact Trump-O-Meterhttps://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/trumpometer/promise/1366/ensure-funding-historic-black-colleges/ ↗
“My plan will also ensure funding for historic black colleges and universities, more affordable two- and four-year college and support for trade and vocational education.”
- White House (archived), Bill Announcement, Dec. 19, 2019https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/bill-announcement-69/ ↗
“On Thursday, December 19, 2019, the President signed into law: H.R. 5363, the 'Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education Act or the FUTURE Act,'”
- govinfo.gov (Public Law 115-224)https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-115publ224/html/PLAW-115publ224.htm ↗
“An Act To reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.”
- Internal Revenue Service (June 28, 2019)https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-issues-guidance-on-the-tax-on-the-net-investment-income-of-certain-private-colleges-and-universities ↗
“The Internal Revenue Service today issued proposed regulations for the new 1.4 percent excise tax on the net investment income of certain private colleges and universities.”
- EY Tax News (Ernst & Young)https://taxnews.ey.com/news/2016-1672-university-endowments-should-help-lower-students-costs-or-risk-losing-tax-favored-status-says-trump ↗
“end the tax-exempt status of college endowments that don't spend enough of their funds on lowering tuition costs or supporting student activities”
- Inside Higher Edhttps://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/09/23/trump-questions-spending-decisions-colleges-large-endowments ↗
“Instead these universities use the money to pay their administrators, to put donors' names on their buildings, or just store the money, keep it and invest it. But they should be using the money on students, for tuition, for student life and for student housing.”
- U.S. Code (Office of the Law Revision Counsel)https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A4968+edition%3Aprelim%29 ↗
“There is hereby imposed on each applicable educational institution for the taxable year a tax equal to the applicable percentage of the net investment income of such institution for the taxable year.”
- U.S. Department of Educationhttps://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/budget19/summary/19summary.pdf ↗
“This program, which supports the development and implementation of human capital management systems and performance-based compensation systems in high-need schools, has delivered limited evidence of improved teaching or learning”
- U.S. Department of Educationhttps://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/teacher-preparation-grants/teacher-and-school-leader-incentive-program-84374a ↗
“The purpose of the TSL program is to support the use of performance-based compensation, and other human capital strategies that enhance and sustain performance-based compensation, in order to increase students' access to effective educators in high-need schools.”
- U.S. Department of Educationhttps://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/budget20/summary/20summary.pdf ↗
“The Request proposes $200.0 million for the program, including $110.0 million for new awards that would support (1) high-quality mentoring or residencies for novice teachers or (2) increased compensation for effective teachers”
- Crippled America (book), via OnTheIssueshttps://ontheissues.org/Archive/Crippled_America_Donald_Trump.htm ↗
“Let schools compete for kids. I've been urging politicians to open the schoolhouse doors and let parents decide which schools are best for their children.”
- Federal Register (Executive Order 13864, 84 FR 11401)https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-03-26/pdf/2019-05934.pdf ↗
“take appropriate steps, in a manner consistent with applicable law, including the First Amendment, to ensure institutions that receive Federal research or education grants promote free inquiry”