That’s not what he said. You are perpetuating the same lie as the “good people on both sides” argument.
With regards to DOE being wasteful:
First, administrative bloat. The DOE employs thousands of staff and contractors, yet much of its budget—around 90%—gets funneled to states and local districts through grants and loans. This middleman role inflates costs without directly improving classroom outcomes. For example, in fiscal year 2023, the DOE’s budget was $79.6 billion, but only a small fraction went to operational oversight, with the rest redistributed, raising questions about why such a large federal apparatus is needed.
Second, overlapping programs. The DOE oversees dozens of initiatives—like Title I grants, Pell Grants, and special education funding—this duplicates efforts at the state level. A 2011 Government Accountability Office report identified 82 separate teacher-quality programs across multiple agencies, including the DOE, with little evidence they coordinate effectively. This fragmentation leads to redundant spending.
Third, questionable results. Despite decades of funding, student performance metrics—like NAEP scores—have remained stagnant. In 1979, the DOE was created to boost education outcomes, but reading and math scores for 17-year-olds haven’t budged much since. This is evidence that billions spent on federal oversight and programs aren’t delivering. For instance, the $190 billion in COVID relief funds allocated to schools since 2020 have been linked to minimal academic recovery, with some districts spending on stadiums or staff bonuses instead of learning loss.
Finally, compliance costs. Schools must navigate a maze of federal regulations to access DOE funds, which forces them to hire administrators just to handle paperwork. A 2022 study estimated that K-12 schools spend $700 million annually on federal reporting requirements—money that could go to teachers or supplies.
How is that?
