US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon doubles down on state control during Wyoming school tour
In Jackson, Wyoming, the debate over federal oversight and local control of education took center stage on Thursday, as U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited a local school, signaling a renewed push to return authority over K-12 education to the states. Her tour, part of a nationwide 50-state initiative dubbed the “Returning Education to the States Tour,” is designed to showcase state-level successes and elevate local voices in the policymaking process.
Accompanied by Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, McMahon moved through classrooms filled with students exploring everything from number theory to classical literature. During a roundtable discussion, she praised the students for their eloquence and curiosity, emphasizing that improvements in test scores and learning outcomes are driven by state policies rather than federal interventions. “You look at the states that have been so successful raising their scores…that’s not because of anything that is done at the federal level,” she told Cowboy State Daily,the Wyoming-based news organization covering the event.
A nationwide tour with a singular message
The secretary’s stop in Jackson is one of several on her cross-country journey. Earlier visits included FuturEdge Charter Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado. The tour is intended not only to spotlight best practices but also to reinforce the administration’s vision of reducing the federal bureaucracy in education.
McMahon’s remarks come amid an ongoing national conversation about the role of the U.S. Department of Education . While she stopped short of describing her ultimate goal as dismantling the department, she made clear that the effort is focused on eliminating bureaucratic obstacles and empowering states and local communities to lead educational initiatives. According to Cowboy State Daily, McMahon emphasized her commitment to returning control to the states and streamlining the department’s functions, framing it as a mission in alignment with President Donald Trump ’s vision.
Governor Gordon echoed this sentiment, noting that Wyoming’s distinctive approach to education cannot always accommodate national mandates designed for larger, more densely populated states. In a state where students often face logistical choices between courses such as math and band, Gordon argued that local flexibility allows students to pursue both, free from restrictive federal rules.
Civics and the classroom
McMahon also highlighted the importance of civics education, an area she believes has been neglected in the national curriculum. She suggested that her tour seeks to inspire states to reintegrate civics as a central component of student learning, ensuring that the next generation understands both their rights and responsibilities.
The tour coincides with a series of federal policy initiatives intended to curtail the Department of Education ’s reach. President Trump has repeatedly advocated for states to reclaim control of curricula, calling the department a source of bureaucratic inefficiency. In March, he signed an executive order outlining a framework for returning the department’s authority to the states, a move McMahon describes as a “momentous final mission” for her office, according to a department statement cited by Cowboy State Daily.
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, present at the event, reinforced the administration’s message. She described the shift as historic, emphasizing that placing decision-making power back in the classroom, rather than in distant federal offices, represents a tangible victory for students and families in the state.
State control in practice
McMahon’s tour illustrates a broader philosophical divide in American education: the tension between centralized oversight and local autonomy. By showcasing successful classrooms in Jackson, she is sending a signal that states should have the latitude to experiment, innovate, and set priorities tailored to their unique student populations.
As the secretary prepares to continue her tour to Montana, her message is clear: the future of American education, she argues, belongs to the states, with federal authorities serving only as facilitators rather than architects.
Accompanied by Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, McMahon moved through classrooms filled with students exploring everything from number theory to classical literature. During a roundtable discussion, she praised the students for their eloquence and curiosity, emphasizing that improvements in test scores and learning outcomes are driven by state policies rather than federal interventions. “You look at the states that have been so successful raising their scores…that’s not because of anything that is done at the federal level,” she told Cowboy State Daily,
A nationwide tour with a singular message
The secretary’s stop in Jackson is one of several on her cross-country journey. Earlier visits included FuturEdge Charter Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado. The tour is intended not only to spotlight best practices but also to reinforce the administration’s vision of reducing the federal bureaucracy in education.
McMahon’s remarks come amid an ongoing national conversation about the role of the U.S. Department of Education . While she stopped short of describing her ultimate goal as dismantling the department, she made clear that the effort is focused on eliminating bureaucratic obstacles and empowering states and local communities to lead educational initiatives. According to Cowboy State Daily
Governor Gordon echoed this sentiment, noting that Wyoming’s distinctive approach to education cannot always accommodate national mandates designed for larger, more densely populated states. In a state where students often face logistical choices between courses such as math and band, Gordon argued that local flexibility allows students to pursue both, free from restrictive federal rules.
Civics and the classroom
McMahon also highlighted the importance of civics education, an area she believes has been neglected in the national curriculum. She suggested that her tour seeks to inspire states to reintegrate civics as a central component of student learning, ensuring that the next generation understands both their rights and responsibilities.
The tour coincides with a series of federal policy initiatives intended to curtail the Department of Education ’s reach. President Trump has repeatedly advocated for states to reclaim control of curricula, calling the department a source of bureaucratic inefficiency. In March, he signed an executive order outlining a framework for returning the department’s authority to the states, a move McMahon describes as a “momentous final mission” for her office, according to a department statement cited by Cowboy State Daily.
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, present at the event, reinforced the administration’s message. She described the shift as historic, emphasizing that placing decision-making power back in the classroom, rather than in distant federal offices, represents a tangible victory for students and families in the state.
State control in practice
McMahon’s tour illustrates a broader philosophical divide in American education: the tension between centralized oversight and local autonomy. By showcasing successful classrooms in Jackson, she is sending a signal that states should have the latitude to experiment, innovate, and set priorities tailored to their unique student populations.
As the secretary prepares to continue her tour to Montana, her message is clear: the future of American education, she argues, belongs to the states, with federal authorities serving only as facilitators rather than architects.
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