An unidentified speaker criticized the U.S. Department of Education as an entrenched bureaucracy and urged redirecting federal education dollars to state schools in Tennessee.

"I would welcome the opportunity to take the dollars that are spent on the federal Department of Education bureaucracy and use those dollars into our public school systems to spend them wisely on the education of our children," the speaker said, calling for those funds to be managed at the state level.

The speaker noted the federal bureaucracy dates to 1979 and called that history part of the problem. They said they "think it's a great idea" that President Trump has proposed such a change, and added that "the particulars will have to be worked out" while stating they stand ready to work with the future president to determine how Tennessee will spend federal dollars more efficiently to benefit children.

No specific dollar amounts, timelines, or formal proposals were presented in the remarks, and no votes or formal actions were recorded in the transcript. The remarks were framed as a policy preference and an offer to collaborate rather than as a concrete, enacted plan.