A look back at the history of the Department of Education provides depressing insight into the seemingly insurmountable difficulties involved in reducing federal spending.
Despite the fact that education is clearly reserved as a state responsibility by the Constitution, progressives believed federal programs, regulation, and funding would provide the impetus for real improvement in the U.S. education system.
Finally, in 1979, under President Jimmy Carter, DoED was established as a separate cabinet department.
In 2016, President-elect Donald Trump signaled a definite shift of DoED policy in at least two different directions by placing a stronger emphasis on choice and a greater reliance on the states to mold education policy.
His pick for Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, was a longtime advocate of choice in education and an outspoken proponent of limited government.
In the 2018 budget process, she stood out as one of the few department heads to request a substantial reduction in appropriations for her department.
In an interview last year, DeVos was asked about President Trump's past support for shutting down the DoED. She responded with a remarkable understatement: "It would be fine with me if I worked myself out of a job, but I'm not sure there is a movement in Congress to do that." Not only is Congress not prepared to shut down the department, the Republican majority cannot even pass a reduction in DoED spending in compliance with the Secretary's direct request.
https://www.realclearpolicy.com/articles/2018/04/09/if_this_is_limited_government_were_in_trouble_110584.html
Despite the fact that education is clearly reserved as a state responsibility by the Constitution, progressives believed federal programs, regulation, and funding would provide the impetus for real improvement in the U.S. education system.
Finally, in 1979, under President Jimmy Carter, DoED was established as a separate cabinet department.
In 2016, President-elect Donald Trump signaled a definite shift of DoED policy in at least two different directions by placing a stronger emphasis on choice and a greater reliance on the states to mold education policy.
His pick for Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, was a longtime advocate of choice in education and an outspoken proponent of limited government.
In the 2018 budget process, she stood out as one of the few department heads to request a substantial reduction in appropriations for her department.
In an interview last year, DeVos was asked about President Trump's past support for shutting down the DoED. She responded with a remarkable understatement: "It would be fine with me if I worked myself out of a job, but I'm not sure there is a movement in Congress to do that." Not only is Congress not prepared to shut down the department, the Republican majority cannot even pass a reduction in DoED spending in compliance with the Secretary's direct request.
https://www.realclearpolicy.com/articles/2018/04/09/if_this_is_limited_government_were_in_trouble_110584.html
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