Trump’s Effort to Gut Education Dept. Rebuked by Senate Committee

July 31, 2026 - 10:34

A Senate committee voted Tuesday to advance a bill that would block the administration from dismantling the Department of Education, marking the most direct congressional challenge yet to President Trump's push to gut the agency. The measure, introduced with support from both parties, passed the committee by a comfortable margin, though it faces an uphill battle in the full chamber and would need to clear a presidential veto.

The bill would require the department to maintain its core functions, including federal student aid, civil rights enforcement, and oversight of Title I funding for low-income schools. Supporters argued that abolishing the department, as Trump has repeatedly proposed, would hurt millions of students and leave states without a clear federal partner on key issues like special education and loan repayment.

Opponents on the committee called the bill an overreach, saying it ties the hands of the executive branch and preserves a bureaucracy they see as ineffective. But the bipartisan vote signals growing unease among some Republicans about the administration's aggressive approach, especially in rural districts where federal education dollars are vital.

The bill is far from becoming law. It still needs a floor vote, and even if it passes, the White House has made clear it would veto any measure that blocks its agenda. Still, the committee action gives lawmakers a concrete way to register their opposition, and it pressures moderate Republicans to take a public stance ahead of the next election cycle.

For now, the administration continues to pursue its plan through executive orders and budget proposals, but this vote shows that Congress is not willing to simply stand aside. Whether that resistance can hold remains an open question, but Tuesday's outcome is a clear signal that the fight over the Education Department is only intensifying.