NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin, has proposed legislation to prepare Tennessee for significant changes to the United States Department of Education (ED). House Bill 958 will create a seven-member task force to ensure Tennessee can effectively respond to any potential deregulation or dismantling of the ED at the federal level. “The Trump […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin, has proposed legislation to prepare Tennessee for significant changes to the United States Department of Education (ED).
House Bill 958 will create a seven-member task force to ensure Tennessee can effectively respond to any potential deregulation or dismantling of the ED at the federal level.
“The Trump administration has been clear in its intent to overhaul the American education system,” Slater said. “It’s imperative that Tennessee is not caught flat-footed when major federal reforms are enacted. A deregulation task force will ensure our state can seamlessly continue providing the highest quality education to students no matter what changes are taking place nationally.”
The task force created by this legislation will identify federal K-12 education funding, federal requirements for receiving funds, state resources needed to receive funds and the number of positions paid by federal dollars. It will also consider whether programs or resources provided by federal funds should continue.
The task force will be required to submit policy recommendations to the General Assembly by Jan. 2026.
President Donald Trump has signaled that he plans to dismantle the ED to send education back to the states. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on March 3 sent a memo to the ED employees outlining the department’s “final mission.”
“Our job is to respect the will of the American people and the President they elected, who has tasked us with accomplishing the elimination of bureaucratic bloat here at the Department of Education—a momentous final mission—quickly and responsibly,” McMahon wrote.
House Bill 958 is scheduled to be heard for consideration in the House K-12 Subcommittee on March 11.
State Rep. William Slater represents House District 35, which includes Trousdale and part of Sumner counties.