In the early 80's Ronald Reagan wanted to dissolve the DoE. Instead, a report called "A Nation at Risk" resulted in the U.S. government doubling down on terrible education policy and driving a couple generations further behind educationally while focusing on all of the wrong things... and the report didn't even say any of the things they ran with!

Gaslighting Americans about public schools: The truth about ‘A Nation at Risk’ - The Washington Post