Oklahoma
Oklahoma Leaders React to Trump's Executive Order to Dissolve the Education Department: Key Facts About the U.S. Department of Education
On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order directing his Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the states, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”
President Trump signs order to dismantle Department of Education
This action fulfills a pledge Trump frequently made during his campaign to eliminate the department, asserting that the Biden administration had used it to promote a progressive ideological agenda. Secretary McMahon acknowledged during her confirmation hearing that it would take an act of Congress to actually abolish the department.
Key Facts About the U.S. Department of Education:
1. Establishment of the U.S. Department of Education
The Department of Education was established by Congress in 1979 to ensure all Americans have equal access to education. Congress found that education was essential to the development of individuals and the country as a whole—and that no one should be denied access to quality educational opportunities due to their race, creed, color, national origin, or sex. The department was tasked with expanding educational access for all, supporting state and local education efforts, encouraging community engagement in education programs, and conducting research to improve education quality. At the time, approximately 31% of Americans had completed some form of postsecondary education; that number has since increased to 62%.
2. What Does the U.S. Department of Education Do?
The department ensures equal opportunity, conducts research to maintain education quality, and administers grant programs to supplement school funding. In fiscal year 2024, the Department of Education accounted for about 4% of all federal spending.
Some of the department’s primary responsibilities include:
- Enforcing civil rights laws to ensure equal access to education for all students.
- Conducting research that leads to evidence-based practices and policies in education.
- Administering the $18.4 billion Title I program that provides funding to districts serving high volumes of low-income students to offset state and local funding disparities.
- Providing $14.2 billion to states and districts for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which supports the education of more than 7.5 million students with disabilities.
- Operating the $1.6 trillion federal student loan program, which makes it financially possible for tens of millions of Americans to access higher education.
3. What Does the U.S. Department of Education Not Do?
The Department of Education does not set curriculum or manage all education matters across the country. Just as most states and local governments provide the bulk of funding for their schools, they also determine, in large part, how schools are staffed, what courses are taught, and what the standards are for graduation.
4. The U.S. Department of Education Cannot Be Eliminated Through an Executive Order
Only Congress has the authority to abolish the Department of Education since it was created through legislation in 1979. This power is granted to Congress by the Constitution. Legislation abolishing the department would require a minimum of 60 votes in the Senate. Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate.
5. Department of Education Employees
Secretary McMahon initiated a Reduction in Force (RIF), effective March 21, impacting nearly half of the department’s workforce. When President Trump took office, the Department of Education employed 4,133 workers. Following the RIF, and combined with about 600 voluntary resignations, the workforce will drop to about 2,200—less than one-tenth of 1% of the approximately 3 million Americans employed by the federal government.
Reaction From Oklahoma Officials and Education Leaders
The University of Oklahoma released this statement on the Department of Education Executive Order:
I am reaching out today to address the recent executive order from the federal administration regarding the U.S. Department of Education. While the specifics of the order are being reviewed, we understand that many of you may have questions about its potential impact.
Currently, we do not anticipate any immediate disruption to financial aid availability. Students should continue to file for aid as usual through FAFSA. We are actively monitoring the situation, and the Student Financial Center in Buchanan Hall will continue assisting students through the financial aid process. For the most up-to-date information, visit ou.edu/sfc, or follow the latest university information related to all executive orders at ou.edu/resources/executive-order-faq.
We know this remains a time of great change. We are working with all our contacts to stay informed and to provide you with the most up-to-date information. In the meantime, we will continue to advocate for policies that support our students, faculty, and staff.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our university’s mission.
Live On, University,
Joseph Harroz, Jr.
President
The Oklahoma Education Association President Carl Elledge released this statement:
House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson
House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement after an Executive Order was signed to begin the dismantling of the US Department of Education:
“I have many concerns about this attempt by the president to usurp legislative authority by working to dismantle a federal agency without congressional approval,” Leader Munson said. “I am especially concerned with the future of Oklahoma’s public education system being led by our current State Superintendent, who will be given more power and less accountability. This may be a win for him, but not for Oklahoma students, teachers, or families. He will feel even more emboldened to make similar declarations without legislative approval to implement religion in our classrooms, advocate for public dollars going to private schools, and cut programs that help our most vulnerable students who need access to disability services and meal programs. While this Executive Order leaves a lot of uncertainty, Oklahoma House Democrats will continue to advocate for our public schools, teachers, and students. We will continue to hold the State Superintendent accountable to Oklahomans, not the president.”
Senate Education Leaders Reaction
Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, who lead the Senate Education Committee, issued the following statements about President Donald Trump’s executive order to return education to the states.
Senator Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee:
“President Trump’s executive order gives Oklahoma a unique opportunity to return accountability and transparency to the state. I am all for ending the heavy-handed, one-size-fits-all approach that has been going on for decades through federal mandates from the U.S. Department of Education. Returning more power to the states, with no interruption in services to kids that need it most, will allow more flexibility in education and create innovation, which is something I have been working on for years. I am in ongoing discussions with our federal delegation to understand what exactly this means for Oklahoma. My plan is to continue working with all stakeholders to ensure we are well-positioned to take on a greater leadership role in shaping our own education system. I will continue to advocate for the policies that put students and families first.”
Senator Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, Senate Education Committee Vice Chair:
“The Trump Administration’s announcement to upend the U.S. Department of Education is welcome news given the ineffective bureaucracy it has become. For too long, the U.S. Department of Education has imposed burdensome regulations and mandates that hinder innovation and limit the ability of states to address the unique needs of their students. By shifting decision-making authority back to the states, we can cut through federal red tape and empower local leaders, educators, and parents to craft policies that best serve their communities. To be clear – this approach is not about reducing funding for critical programs but about ensuring those dollars are spent more effectively. States will retain funding for students with special needs and other essential programs while gaining the flexibility to allocate resources based on what works best for their schools — not what a federal bureaucracy dictates. Education decisions should be made closer to the classroom, where leaders understand the specific challenges and opportunities their students face.”
A contentious debate over water and growth is intensifying in Yukon as residents and city leaders grapple with the long-term costs of supplying major industrial projects, including a data center that uses up to 3 million gallons a day.
The discussion spilled into another packed Yukon City Council meeting, where residents learned how strained and expensive the city’s water outlook could be over the next 25 years.
Emotions ran high, with one resident comparing city leadership to a Nazi regime.
Yukon’s water supply plan examines eight options, including five aquifers, non-potable reuse water, direct potable reuse water, and purchasing 2 million gallons a day from Oklahoma City.
Projected costs exceed $200 million, with millions more expected over the next 25 years for operations and maintenance.
The data center was part of the conversation from the start of the water study, which began in late 2024.
The facility uses up to 3 million gallons a day to cool its servers. One option discussed for meeting that demand is a non-potable supply providing 3 million gallons a day, with $55.9 million in capital costs and a required 18-inch pipe stretching 3.5 miles.
The option is recommended to meet great industrial demands, including a data center.
Council member Rick Cacini said his focus is on residents’ needs rather than industrial users. Cacini said, “We had water problems 8 years ago when I started, and we have water problems today.”
Another council member raised the idea of taking cost out of the equation when considering whether to supply water to the data center.
Residents spoke out one after another against the data center after hearing details of the water plan and costs.
One resident referenced Piedmont, where two data center proposals were tabled on Monday. Another resident said, “It’s not a good deal for us, and the other cities know it already.”
Some residents escalated their criticism of city leadership. One resident said, “I voted for Pillmore, and I regret that vote more than anything probably I’ve ever done in my life because this feels like some nazi regime.”
Others called for city leaders to be recalled. “We will collect those signatures within 30 days, and we’re gonna remove you.”
Concerns also grew over the data center agreement, centered on the purchaser having an “out” while the seller does not.
The city manager was said to have gotten something wrong in August.
The meeting ended with Cacini threatening to sue Mayor Brian Pillmore over comments made in an early May meeting.
Pillmore was not at the meeting, saying he was on vacation with his family.
INOLA, Okla. — Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has filed a petition in Rogers County seeking to block a proposed aluminum-smelting facility in Inola.
According to Drummond, Emirates Global Aluminum holds a 60% controlling interest in the project. The company is based in the United Arab Emirates.
Century Aluminum, a company headquartered in Chicago, owns the remaining 40%.
If completed, Oklahoma Primary Aluminum would be the largest primary aluminum production plant in the United States. However, the facility would produce hazardous waste, which has raised concerns in both the Inola community and across the state. Billboards have been spotted along Highway 412 in Inola, warning others about the proposal.
The facility would also draw more than 1,000 megawatts of continuous energy.
“A primary aluminum smelter does not belong in a community’s backyard, and its emissions do not respect property lines,” Drummond said, adding that winds could carry pollutants into the surrounding northeastern Oklahoma communities. “The injury is imminent, it is grave, and it is irreparable.”
However, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has criticized Drummond’s actions, saying the facility would be one of the state’s largest economic development projects in history.
It is important to note that Drummond is currently running for Governor.
“As soon as President Trump made his endorsement in the governor’s race, Drummond dropped the act and showed his true colors,” said Stitt. “Now he is turning his machine against one of President Trump’s top priorities, once again weaponizing his office to settle scores instead of serving Oklahomans. President Trump’s aluminum project in Inola will rapidly grow Oklahoma’s economy and strengthen America’s supply chain for generations, while Drummond turns his back on our state in favor of cheap political gimmicks and personal gain.”
President Trump has endorsed Mike Mazzei in Oklahoma’s gubernatorial race. The Republican primary is scheduled for June 16.
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Oklahomans will soon see semis on the road without a driver inside. That has people asking questions about safety.
The Oklahoma legislature passed a law in 2019, which was modified in 2022, allowing for fully autonomous commercial trucks on Oklahoma highways as long as they meet federal safety standards and follow state traffic laws.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is tasked with governing the operation of these trucks on Oklahoma roads. Troopers have been meeting with the truck makers and have trained to learn as much as possible about these trucks before they start operating. News On 6 asked troopers questions like: How will troopers pull them over? How do the trucks avoid crashes? How do the trucks handle unexpected situations?
Nearby states like Texas already have these trucks on the roads, which OHP says is helpful.
“We did have a lot of the same questions the public has. We have a lot of the same concerns about safety,” said Lieutenant Mark Southall with OHP. “We haven’t heard any bad stories from these other states. This company claims they’ve traveled two million miles without an at-fault collision. Meaning they have not been the causation of any collision.”
High-tech cameras in the trucks
OHP says they learned the trucks have cameras that can see a small animal 600 meters away, day or night. This camera system helps the trucks avoid crashes or anything in the roadway.
“We learned the camera systems in these vehicles are very sophisticated, that they can capture an image as small as a small animal up to 600 meters away. Looking at that the human eye can’t see 600 meters away or see something that small, but these cameras can pick that up and begin to make maneuvers to make sure they stay safe,” said Southall. “The cameras are very, very accurate, and they can avoid those crashes. We watched videos when we went to this training where we watched them avoid those crashes.”
How does the truck handle an unexpected road closure?
OHP says the trucking companies say the trucks have been put through just about every situation imaginable.
“The company has put this vehicle using AI through multiple different situations and scenarios that it’s learned from. If it comes upon a situation it wasn’t prepared for, using the camera system inside the vehicle, I think it begins to recognize what it needs to do,” said Southall.
How does law enforcement pull over the trucks?
“These trucks, from what we are told, are made to recognize when they are being stopped, they are made to recognize the red and blue lights and pull over to the shoulder,” said Southall. “If the vehicle senses red and blue lights and maybe they are not being pulled over, they’ll still pull over to the shoulder and stop and let the emergency vehicle go by.”
How does OHP get information if there is no driver?
OHP says there is a number on the cab of the truck that they call, and it takes them to a dispatch center. All of the trucks are equipped with a lock box with the truck’s documentation.
“The dispatch center will give us a code to be able to get into the box, and we can look at the documents on the truck from there,” said Southall.
What if a citizen sees a truck that has crashed or is on fire?
If a citizen sees the truck crashed or on fire, they can call the number on the cab, which goes to the dispatch center.
What if the truck has a mechanical problem while on the road?
OHP says if the vehicle has any sort of malfunction, it is supposed to pull over to the side of the road and stop, and it will alert dispatch.
Will the trucks be on every highway in Oklahoma?
The trucks won’t be on every highway in Oklahoma. For now, the trucks are expected to only run on the major travel routes like I-35 and I-40.
“We don’t work for this trucking company; our interest is working for the people of Oklahoma to make sure these roadways are safe. This is something the state legislature made state law, and we’ve got to begin to work with it so we can understand it,” said Southall.
The trucks could be on Oklahoma roads with drivers for testing as early as this month.
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