Trump admin urges returning education to states, citing $3 trillion of taxes spent and poor proficiency scores

"Despite $3 trillion in taxpayer investment in a federal Department of Education, only three in 10 students are proficient in reading and math. That is exactly why the Trump administration is returning education to the states and putting local leaders and parents back into the driver's seat," the spokesperson said.

"To deliver this urgent message, Secretary McMahon and key department leaders called into local radio nationwide over the past two weeks, connecting directly with millions of parents to highlight our hard reset to education - from restoring parental rights to empowering states to lead and taking ideology out of higher education."

"As a mother and grandmother, I know firsthand that we only get one opportunity to educate and help our children reach their full God-given potential. That is exactly why the Trump administration is returning education to the states and ushering in the largest expansion of education freedom in American history," McMahon told Fox News Digital.

"This 50-state tour has reached millions of families across our great nation, emphasizing the vital role parents play in their child's life - not bureaucrats in Washington."

Speaking alongside McMahon, students, parents and educators in the Rose Garden, Trump argued that despite massive federal outlays, student performance remains unacceptable. and families require more educational options. He also pledged to eliminate what he called "far-left extremism" from classrooms.

The Trump administration announced earlier this year an inter-agency agreement between the Department of Education and the Department of the Treasury, with an official calling it the largest step toward closing the agency.