President Donald Trump took a big step this week to fulfill a major campaign promise with a highly anticipated executive order to shut down and eliminate the federal Department of Education.

Executive actions only go so far, however, so a top Republican lawmaker, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), revealed that he is working with the administration on legislation to support Trump's order to end the Education Department, Fox News reported.

The South Dakota senator first introduced similar legislation last year, but his bill was completely ignored by the Senate's Democratic leadership at that time.

Trump moves to eliminate the Education Department

On Thursday, President Trump issued an executive order that lamented the failures of the federal Education Department's "unaccountable bureaucracy" that spends tens of billions of taxpayer dollars annually, while educational outcomes have gotten worse.

As such, he directed the Education Secretary to begin the process of closing down the department and devolving authorities over education to the individual states, as well as to ensure that any entities that continue to receive federal education funds quickly eliminate programs related to "diversity, equity, and inclusion" or "gender ideology."

According to a White House "fact sheet," the Education Department has spent more than $3 trillion since its inception in 1979, only to see math and reading scores decline and local school districts be burdened with costly and time-consuming rules and requirements.

It was further noted that this order to begin dismantling the federal Education Department follows a separate executive order in January aimed at "expanding educational freedom and opportunities for families" by supporting school choice for parents and children regardless of income levels.

Senator ready to support Trump's efforts with legislation

As has become clear over the years, though, anything done by a president via executive action can be undone the same way by a successor president with different policy views, meaning legislation will be necessary to make President Trump's reforms last beyond his term in office.

Enter Sen. Rounds, who informed Fox News that he has been quietly working with the Trump administration on reviving the bill he initially filed last year to similarly dismantle the federal Education Department and return educational authority to the states and local districts.

"The federal BUREAUCRACY of Education has never educated a single student," Rounds told the outlet. "It’s time to shut it down."

"Today’s news is a step in the right direction. Congress should follow the executive branch’s lead and act accordingly," he added. "I am working on legislation that would return education decisions to states and local school districts while maintaining important programs like special education and Title I. We are discussing this legislation with Secretary McMahon, and we believe there is a very good path forward."

Rounds first introduced a bill last year

As noted, Sen. Rounds first introduced legislation in November titled the "Returning Education to Our States Act," which would essentially eliminate the Education Department and transfer any of its necessary functions and programs to other particularly suited departments, such as Health and Human Services, Interior, Labor, State, and Treasury.

"The federal Department of Education has never educated a single student, and it’s long past time to end this bureaucratic Department that causes more harm than good," Rounds said at the time. "We all know local control is best when it comes to education. Everyone raised in South Dakota can think of a teacher who played a big part in their educational journey. Local school boards and state Departments of Education know best what their students need, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C."

"For years, I’ve worked toward removing the federal Department of Education. I’m pleased that President-elect Trump shares this vision, and I’m excited to work with him and Republican majorities in the Senate and House to make this a reality," the senator added. "This legislation is a roadmap to eliminating the federal Department of Education by practically rehoming these federal programs in the departments where they belong, which will be critical as we move into next year."