Committee Advances Sweeping Education Deregulation Bills

July 15, 2026 - 02:02

The House Education Committee has voted to advance a slate of 10 bills aimed at dramatically reducing the federal government's role in local schools. The legislative package, which cleared the committee along party lines, seeks to shift significant authority over education policy back to state governments.

Supporters argue the bills will cut red tape and give local leaders more flexibility in how they run their classrooms. Among the proposed changes are measures to limit the reach of federal testing mandates, ease reporting requirements tied to federal funding, and reduce the enforcement power of the U.S. Department of Education. One bill would allow states to bypass certain federal rules entirely if they can show their own standards are strong enough.

Critics warn the package could weaken protections for vulnerable students, including those with disabilities and low-income children. They say removing federal oversight might lead to uneven quality across states and less accountability for how taxpayer money is spent.

The committee's chair defended the move, saying Washington has too much control over local decisions. The bills now head to the full House for debate, where a contentious fight is expected. No timeline has been set for a floor vote.