Margaret Brenan: We now go on to Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky. He comes to us this morning from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and serves as the head of the Homeland Security Committee. You have a good morning, Senator.
Sen. Rand Paul: Good morning. I appreciate you having me.
Margaret Brenan: Yes, given your position in Homeland Security, I would want to continue our conversation with National Security Adviser Waltz. The use of these powers to release inmates without allowing them to appear in court raises legal concerns.
However, there are also concerns about how these people are being treated in relation to El Salvador; one is because they were not Venezuelan, and the other is because of their gender. Are you concerned about any of these issues? In addition to their relatives’ assertions that a large number of these individuals weren’t gang members?
Senator Rand Paul on Deportation Law, Federal Spending, and the Future of U.S. Education
Senator Rand Paul, speaking on Face the Nation, shared his views on several key national issues — from the controversial use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants, to plans for cutting federal spending, and whether the Department of Education should be shut down.
Can Migrants Be Deported Without a Court Hearing?
Senator Paul explained that there’s a serious legal conflict between the U.S. Constitution and the Alien Enemies Act, a law over 200 years old. The Constitution says that everyone in the U.S., including non-citizens, has rights such as due process. But the Alien Enemies Act allows the president to deport people without court hearings if they’re seen as a threat to foreign policy.
Paul said the courts will have to decide whether this law is still constitutional today. He believes the Supreme Court may uphold it, even though it’s controversial.
“These are big legal questions,” Paul said. “And the only way to get answers is to challenge them in court.”
Is Senator Paul Comfortable With These Deportations?
When asked if he’s comfortable with migrants being deported without a trial — some possibly sent wrongly to foreign prisons — Paul said he believes the courts will step in to ensure there’s some legal process.
“I think there’s going to be some process,” Paul said. “But I’m not a constitutional lawyer.”
He admitted the situation is complex and said he expects the issue to go to the Supreme Court soon.
Paul’s Plan to Reclaim $500 Billion in Federal Spending
Senator Paul revealed that he’s working on a plan to claw back $500 billion in already-approved government spending. He discussed the idea with Elon Musk, who supports it.
Paul said this would require either the president to “impound” the funds (refuse to spend them), or for Congress to approve the cut through a process called rescission.
“We tried this in 2018 with just $15 billion, and we lost,” Paul recalled. “This time, we need to negotiate with Republicans early to win support.”
He also said this legal issue — whether the president can block spending without Congress — is likely headed to the Supreme Court as well.
Should the Department of Education Be Shut Down?
When asked about President Trump’s idea to close the Department of Education, Paul supported it. He argued that states should control schools and that federal spending has not improved student performance.
“Why are our scores so bad if we’re spending so much?” Paul asked. “Two-thirds of our kids don’t read or do math at grade level.”
He explained that Kentucky, his home state, receives $2 billion in federal education funding. But he believes the money can be sent directly to states — or even better, not taken from them in the first place.
Paul also shared a bold vision where the best teachers could teach millions of students online, supported by local teachers. He called this idea an “NBA or NFL of teaching,” where top educators are better paid and more widely accessed
Senator Paul laid out some controversial but clear positions — defending legal debate over deportation powers, supporting major federal spending cuts, and pushing for education to be managed at the state level. Whether or not these plans succeed, they are likely to spark further legal and political battles, especially as key decisions move toward the Supreme Court.