Ben Carson says he would not get rid of the Department of Education, a position contrary to several of his Republican White House primary rivals.

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Instead, the retired neurosurgeon said the agency should be used to monitor America’s colleges and universities for “extreme political bias.”

“I actually have something I would use the Department of Education to do,” Carson said on Glenn Beck’s radio show on Wednesday.

“Would it be pack boxes for the State Department? The IRS?” Beck joked.

“No, it would be to monitor our institutions of higher education for extreme political bias and deny federal funding if it exists,” he responded.

“I like that,” Beck rejoined.

Republican primary hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzTrump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy MORE (R-Texas) has advocated abolishing the department, while front-runner Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE said it should be significantly cut to empower local districts.

Carson also said he would "intensify" the war on drugs and send a "stabilizing" military force back into Iraq if elected.