By Hannah Eason Amado
RICHMOND, Va. — President Donald Trump’s executive order aiming to dismantle the Department of Education is causing division among Virginia’s lawmakers.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin expressed support for the measure, saying Virginia is ready to take “full responsibility” for K-12 education.
“We welcome the federal government’s shift of responsibility to the states—and we are grateful that President Trump’s executive order does just that,” Youngkin said.
A press release from the governor’s office said the order is “effectively ending all taxpayer support for ‘DEI’ and institutions that use race and sex as a deciding factor in policies and procedures.”
Trump signed an executive order Thursday calling for the dismantling of the department. However, completing its dismantling is most likely impossible without an act of Congress, which created the department in 1979. Republicans said they will introduce a bill to achieve that.
The Department of Education oversees federal assistance on things such as financial aid, research and ensuring equal opportunity regardless of a student’s race or background. Local curriculums and lesson plans are decided and voted on by your local school board and state departments of education.
Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera said the order “ensures that federal dollars will arrive in Virginia with less red tape and bureaucracy.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, said the order “will have negative impacts on every student and harm our economic growth and competitiveness.”
“It will cut off critical funding for K-12 schools, make it harder for students with disabilities to access educational opportunities, and hinder students’ ability to access higher education and job training,” Kaine said. “We should be investing more in younger generations, not less, and I will fight to ensure every student—regardless of their zip code—can continue to receive the high-quality education they deserve.”
In February, Kaine voted against Linda McMahon’s nomination to be Secretary of Education, in part due to her comments indicating she would support Trump’s efforts to abolish the education department.
Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, a candidate for Virginia governor, said in a statement that she has three daughters in Virginia public schools.
“I know that kids, families, and schools across the Commonwealth will bear the brunt of this irresponsible decision,” Spanberger said. “Virginia’s students, parents, teachers, and schools will suffer if the Trump Administration cuts education funding.”
Spanberger said Virginia ranks last in math recovery, and state leaders should focus on “promoting excellence and expanding opportunities for our kids, not creating chaos for families.”
Ranking member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03), sent a letter along with other lawmakers to Linda McMahon, urging her to “immediately halt” the order.
“We urge you to reverse these short-sighted decisions before they cause any more damage to America’s students, families, and educators,” the letter read.
How much does Virginia get from the Department of Education?
According to the Virginia Department of Education, Virginia’s public schools are financed through a combination of local, state and federal funding.
In the 2021-22 school year, Virginia’s public schools received $2.5 billion, or about $2,038 per student. That was 19.6% lower than the national average, according to USAFacts.
The totals vary by district and depend on factors like population size, demographics and poverty levels, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Among Virginia’s largest school districts, Norfolk receives the most funding from federal sources — equating to about $3,276 per student. Virginia Beach’s federal funding per student was around $2,200, while Chesapeake’s was about $1,800.