SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Republican Sen. Mike Rounds has come out in support of shutting down the federal Department of Education on social media.
Rounds, who’s represented South Dakota in Washington D.C. since 2015, shared his support Thursday for Donald Trump’s newly nominated head of the Department of Education, Linda McMahon.
“Congratulations to @Linda_McMahon on being tapped as President Trump’s Secretary of Education. I look forward to working with her to end the Dept. of Education….stay tuned!👀,” he posted on X.
KELOLAND News reached out to Rounds’ office to get more information about his stance. Rounds’ spokesperson, Dezmond Ward, said there was “more to come…”
Trump’s plan to end the DOE includes returning responsibility for education to the states like it was prior to 1980. The DOE is responsible for distribution of federal financial aid for education, collecting and disseminating data and research related to schools, and prohibiting discrimination in schools, CBS News reports.
AP News says the DOE manages approximately $1.5 trillion in student loan debt, oversees the Pell Grant and provides aid to students below certain income levels.
Rounds recently introduced a new bill called the Affordable Future Loan Program that would guarantee loans and pay the interest while students are in school. The bill was read in August and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
McMahon is the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment or WWE. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year in 2009. She was also on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut.
During Trump’s first presidency, McMahon led the Small Business Administration. After Trump lost in 2020, she helped create the America First Policy Institute to continue advocating for Trump in the White House.
KELOLAND News also reached out to Sen. John Thune and Rep. Dusty Johnson’s office for comment.
