H.R. 2456: Orderly Liquidation of the Department of Education Act

This bill, known as the Orderly Liquidation of the Department of Education Act, proposes to terminate the Department of Education and transfer its responsibilities to various other governmental entities. Below are the key components and implications of the bill:

Purpose and Findings

• The bill asserts that the Department of Education has not improved education in the United States over its 45 years of existence.
• It claims the department has failed to effectively collaborate with state and local educational systems to enhance education quality.
• The bill argues that the Department has enacted policies that undermine local officials, educators, and parents' authority over education.

Termination of the Department of Education

• The bill mandates that the Department of Education will be officially dissolved on October 1, 2026.
• All functions of the Department will be repealed unless explicitly transferred to other agencies as provided in this bill.

Creation of the Office of Education

• An Office of Education will be established within the Department of Health and Human Services.
• This office will oversee educational functions, with a Director appointed by the President.
• Two assistant directors will be appointed: one for K–12 education and another for higher education.

Liquidation Plan

• The President must develop a liquidation plan within 180 days of the bill’s enactment, detailing how to dissolve the Department and transfer its functions.
• The President will need to consult with appropriate congressional committees before implementing this plan.

Transfer of Functions

• The bill outlines specific functions that will be transferred to other governmental departments including:
• The Department of Health and Human Services
• The National Science Foundation
• The Department of Justice
• The Department of the Treasury
• The Department of Defense
• The Department of Labor
• The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education
• These transfers include the administration of various educational programs and grants.

Funding and Financial Implications

• No federal funds may be expended after October 1, 2036, for certain education-related functions outlined in the bill.
• The authority to issue Federal Direct PLUS Loans will be terminated for any instructional period beginning on or after October 1, 2026.

Other Provisions

• The bill allows recipients of certain funds to refuse grants or other financial allocations from the transferred functions.
• It preserves ongoing proceedings related to functions transferred under this act, ensuring they can continue with the new departments.
• The bill includes provisions to maintain effectiveness of existing legal documents and proceedings related to educational functions until they are officially modified or terminated.

Overall Effect

In summary, if enacted, this bill would dismantle the Department of Education and redistribute its responsibilities across multiple agencies. The aim is to shift educational authority from the federal level back to states and local communities while ensuring that federal regulations on education are minimized.

Relevant Companies

• None found