Trump’s Plan to Dismantle the Department of Education Raises Concerns for Republican Governors
President Donald Trump’s recent directive to shut down the Department of Education (DED) has stirred potential political challenges for some Republican governors up for reelection.
On March 20, Trump issued an executive order aimed at phasing out the DED, instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to initiate the process. While the move requires congressional approval for complete abolition, the administration intends for mass layoffs and funding reductions to render the agency ineffective.
The DED’s primary roles include supplementing funding for underserved school districts, particularly for special education, enforcing the legal right to public education, and managing Pell Grants and other federal loans. Though the DED oversees funding, execution lies with state and local authorities.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, a Republican, expressed support for the order but seemed uncertain about its full implications. In an interview with the Las Vegas Review Journal, Lombardo stated, “There has been no explanation of how it’s going to be detrimental,” adding that he believes key services will persist.
Nevada schools depend on nearly $1 billion annually from the DED. Trump’s order lacks details on maintaining these disbursements. McMahon assured Fox News that other federal agencies would assume these responsibilities, though specifics remain absent. The Nevada Independent reported that school boards are evaluating which programs might be cut should federal funding cease.
In a Breitbart News op-ed, Lombardo argued that the DED’s elimination would grant states more control over educational curriculums, though the DED does not set curriculums.
Elected in 2022 with a narrow margin, Lombardo faces criticism from Nevada Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford, who condemned the cuts in a recent press conference, asserting, “The fact is Joe Lombardo just sold out Nevada’s kids and their futures,” citing potential increases in class sizes and reductions in special needs programs.
Meanwhile, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte has not commented on Trump’s order but has historically supported DED reductions. During her Senate tenure from 2011 to 2017, Ayotte opposed increased funding for low-income districts and unsuccessfully voted to cut Pell Grants.
Ayotte, along with Lombardo, Trump, and McMahon, advocates for school choice policies that allocate public funds to students’ chosen schools, including private ones. Critics argue this approach depletes public school resources.
NEA New Hampshire, the state’s largest teachers union, has endorsed Ayotte’s opponent for the 2024 election. On March 20, the union released a statement highlighting potential negative impacts of Trump’s executive order on public education.
“President Trump’s extreme actions jeopardize the ability of Granite State students to build bright futures,” the statement warned, citing risks to vulnerable schools and students, services for students with disabilities, and civil rights protections.
As New Hampshire governors face elections biennially, Ayotte is slated for reelection in 2026.
A recent Data for Progress Poll indicates nationwide voter opposition to closing the DED, with a 2-to-1 margin against the plan.
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