Virginia Foxx, U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 5th District, said that the federal government lacks constitutional authority over education and advocated for eliminating the Department of Education to return control to states and localities. The statement was made on X.
“Within the Constitution, “education” is not listed as an enumerated power of the federal government,” said Foxx, Congresswoman. “Return decision making authority back to states and localities where it belongs. Tear down the Department of Education brick by brick. It’s time.”
In March 2025, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. According to Business Insider, this move aims to reassign core functions to other agencies and return control to states while preserving certain programs like Pell Grants and Title I. The order has triggered legal and political backlash, reviving debates about the appropriate level of federal involvement in education policy.
State and local governments are the primary funders of K-12 education in the U.S., providing about 86% of total funding, while the federal government contributes roughly 11%. The National Center for Education Statistics highlights this as evidence of the dominant role of state and local authorities in school governance, with federal dollars largely directed toward disadvantaged student populations through programs like Title I.
Since its founding in 1980, public opinion on the U.S. Department of Education has remained divided. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey cited by ThoughtPartner found that 45% of Americans view the department unfavorably, with disapproval highest among Republicans at 64% compared to 26% among Democrats. This enduring partisan split reflects deeper debates over federal versus local control of education.
Foxx has served in Congress since 2005 and currently chairs the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. As a long-time critic of federal overreach, she advocates for policies that return control of education to state and local governments. Her official House biography notes her leadership in legislative efforts to overhaul workforce development programs and reduce federal regulation in education.
