INTERVIEW: Why Rep. Julia Letlow wants to abolish the Department of Education — and why she thinks that will help rural districts

The Trump cabinet hit the road this summer, and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon kicked off a Return Education to the States tour alongside Rep. Julia Letlow (R., La.) in Louisiana.

Letlow, one of the Republicans on the Committee on Education spoke with the Washington Reporter about McMahon’s southern swing, and about education more broadly — specifically about why Letlow is a congressional champion of abolishing the Department of Education.

“It was so awesome to have Secretary McMahon stop in Louisiana first on her national tour to return the Department of Education back to the states where it belongs,” Letlow said. “When I talked to her, I asked what she'd been up to, and she said, ‘I'm busy trying to get fired.’”

“President Trump wants her to be the last Secretary of Education, and I could not be more thrilled in what they're doing, returning that power back to the states,” she said.

Letlow described the contrast between McMahon and her predecessor in the Biden administration, Miguel Cardona, as “night and day.”

“My goodness,” she said, “they are finally just doing the right thing. I remember questioning Secretary Cardona about everything from FAFSA not doing their job or education more broadly. There was just failure after failure after failure.”

“And when you're not scared of losing your job, you're able to actually make true reform,” Letlow continued. “And that's what Secretary McMahon has proven since day one…I could not be more ecstatic about the difference that I've personally seen between the last administration and this one.”

“For far too long, we have been controlled by federal bureaucracy, and even our tax dollars were staying up in D.C. instead of coming down the states where they belong. I'm thrilled about this tour that she's doing, but also the plan that she will unfold on how we are going to dismantle the Department of Education and send that power back to the states.”

Letlow, who spent years working in higher education prior to her election to Congress, said that she “wanted to make sure that Title I funding and funding for special needs students would continue” for rural districts like hers.

“Once I had that promise from the administration, from the Secretary, that those monies would find their way back down to the states, and then the states would be able to distribute that, I was on board because I have witnessed how the department has seriously abused their power,” Letlow said.

“We saw during COVID when parents were upset about their child's curriculum, they would go to the school board and then were unfairly targeted and even labeled domestic terrorists by our federal government,” she continued. “That is [an] abuse of power by the department, and I'm thrilled at what is happening with the dismantling needs to happen, and that those tax dollars will come back to the states where they belong.”

Letlow isn’t only on board with the Trump administration’s vision of abolishing the Department of Education — she also supports Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoking visas of foreign students who are anti-American.

“If you are here on a student visa and you are not for America, if you are actively working against us, he has every right as the Secretary of State to do that,” she said. “I'm in favor for what he is proposing.”

Despite Letlow’s years of working in education policy, she was “absolutely stunned” while sitting in on the infamous hearing where university presidents were excoriated by Republicans on the Education and Workforce Committee for their litany of on-campus failures.

“I could not believe what they were actually saying in that Education and Workforce panel, and so I left, I went and did an interview, and I almost couldn't find the words for how shocked I was that they could not condemn anti-Semitism on their campuses,” she said. “It brought to light a huge problem on our university campuses, and I'm glad for it. We had to expose that so that we could move forward in a positive way.”

To that end, she said the Trump administration’s strategy to withhold funds from schools in order to compel changes has been “effective,” and that she supports it.

“When you hold back funding, universities start to listen and what we really exposed through the Education and Workforce Committee was the rot that was happening, especially in our Ivy League schools,” Letlow said. “I'm thrilled with what is happening across the nation. Universities are finally starting to be held accountable, but we’re also making sure that they are taking the proper steps to make effective change on their campuses.”

On the K-12 side of the education field, Letlow said that she hopes that the Supreme Court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor to allow for parents to opt out of sexually explicit material in public schools for children quickly reshapes education nationwide.

“I truly hope it does reverberate across the country,” she said.

However, there are indications that Democrats aren’t getting the memo. Letlow, who helped author the Parents Bill of Rights after a similar law passed in a bipartisan manner through Louisiana, saw that national Democrats are far less supportive.

Similarly in Virginia, one Democratic activist recently compared the Trump administration’s opposition to transgender bathrooms in public elementary schools to the segregated south.

“I have no idea what was going through her head when she decided to make that,” Letlow said of a Democratic activist’s sign that quickly went viral. “That makes no sense. And again, I don't think that truly represents the electorate. There is this subset of people that will put anything crazy like that on a sign.”

When it comes to the workforce side of the Education and Workforce Committee, Letlow said that she has complete faith in her friend and former colleague, now-Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer.

“I love what she's doing right now with her going around listening to the people in this country and how businesses and the labor market and how educational institutions can provide that next generation of workers; she is really trying to build up our labor right here at home. I could not be more ecstatic about the president choosing Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and the work that she's put in. There is no doubt in my mind; I've seen her work ethic. She will work night and day to make sure that she's delivering for the American people.”

As for her Labor Day, she’s looking forward to spending it in the pool with her children.

Below is a transcript of our interview with Rep. Julia Letlow, lightly edited for clarity.

Washington Reporter:

You recently hosted Secretary Linda McMahon in Louisiana as part of her Return Education to the States tour. Tell us about that and what it was like having one of the top Trump administration officials in your backyard.

Rep. Julia Letlow:

It was so awesome to have Secretary McMahon stop in Louisiana first on her national tour to return the Department of Education back to the states where it belongs. When I talked to her, I asked what she'd been up to, and she said, ‘I'm busy trying to get fired.’ President Trump wants her to be the last Secretary of Education, and I could not be more thrilled in what they're doing, returning that power back to the states. For far too long, we have been controlled by federal bureaucracy, and even our tax dollars were staying up in D.C. instead of coming down the states where they belong. I'm thrilled about this tour that she's doing, but also the plan that she will unfold on how we are going to dismantle the Department of Education and send that power back to the states.

Washington Reporter:

Dismantling the Department of Education is a big push from her, from the Trump administration, and from you; when did you first come around to this idea of being necessary?

Rep. Julia Letlow:

My district is a rural district, and I wanted to make sure that Title I funding and funding for special needs students would continue. Once I had that promise from the administration, from the Secretary, that those monies would find their way back down to the states, and then the states would be able to distribute that, I was on board because I have witnessed how the department has seriously abused their power. We saw during COVID when parents were upset about their child's curriculum, they would go to the school board and then were unfairly targeted and even labeled domestic terrorists by our federal government. That is a way abuse of power by the department, and I'm thrilled at what is happening with the dismantling needs to happen, and that those tax dollars will come back to the states where they belong.

Washington Reporter:

You've spent a lot more time working in education than I have, and more time than most of your colleagues. What lessons from all of your time there are you bringing to bear on this debate and discussion?

Rep. Julia Letlow:

What's interesting about my background is that it is needed up in Washington; everyone's voices are needed. It's the House of the people, and that's why we need people from all different backgrounds to lend their voices. And I definitely have used my background in education to the cause and make sure that our voices are heard. My background is in higher education, and so I've been able to play a central role in holding universities accountable. Getting the indoctrination of our kids out of the schools is really what we're aiming to do. We saw that play out with the anti-Semitism that we saw on our campuses. I was proud to be in that committee hearing to hold those university presidents accountable. Yes, definitely using my background to lend a voice to the education debate.

Washington Reporter:

In addition to your work in Congress, really going toe to toe with a lot of colleges from coast to coast. You've got UCLA, Northwestern Columbia, from left to right geographically there, what do you make of their reforms, and given your time spent on universities and working in them, do you think that these are the way to most effectively effectuate these drastic reforms the administration wants?

Rep. Julia Letlow:

Absolutely; we've seen it be effective. When you hold back funding, universities start to listen and what we really exposed through the Education and Workforce Committee was the rot that was happening, especially in our Ivy League schools. So I'm thrilled with what is happening across the nation. Universities are finally starting to be held accountable, but we’re also making sure that they are taking the proper steps to make effective change on their campuses. For far too long, it's just gotten out of control. Money speaks; when you hold the purse strings and you tighten that back then universities start to listen and make the appropriate changes. So this has been a long time coming. I'm excited to see it happen.

Washington Reporter:

We're not in the University of Louisiana system anymore. What shocked you the most over the course of both these hearings and the investigative work that the Ed and Workforce Committee has done into American and higher ed?

Rep. Julia Letlow:

I was absolutely stunned when I sat on the Committee on Education and the Workforce by what the university presidents were saying; I could not believe what they were actually saying in that Education and Workforce panel, and so I left, I went and did an interview, and I almost couldn't find the words for how shocked I was that they could not condemn anti-Semitism on their campuses. It brought to light a huge problem on our university campuses, and I'm glad for it. We had to expose that so that we could move forward in a positive way.

Washington Reporter:

Do you think the Marco Rubio-led State Department is on the right track with revoking visas for these students who are anti-American?

Rep. Julia Letlow:

Yes. If you are here on a student visa and you are not for America, if you are actively working against us, he has every right as the Secretary of State to do that. So I'm in favor for what he is proposing.

Washington Reporter:

Shifting to the K-12 side of education, which also obviously would be impacted by a Department of Ed closure, we're seeing the Trump administration withholding funds to schools across the country. This came to a head in Northern Virginia, with the public schools there refusing to follow the administration's orders on not allowing transgender bathrooms for children. Do you think of that in the same vein as you do withholding funds to universities?

Rep. Julia Letlow:

Absolutely. Again, money talks, and if they are going against the rules, if they're going against the law, they should be held accountable and their funds should be withheld. This last Congress — because of what happened in Virginia — I was able to put forth the Parents Bill of Rights so that parents would actually have a say and would not be labeled domestic terrorists when their school was not following the law, and they went to their school boards, and rightfully expressed their displeasure. Who would have thought in a million years that our country would need a Parents Bill of Rights? Yet here we are, but now with this new administration, with President Trump and with Secretary McMahon, I'm grateful that we don't necessarily need that because they are doing the right things and making sure that those rights are protected and that parents’ rights are protected.

Washington Reporter:

And yet, every single one of your Democratic colleagues, voted against the Parents Bill of Rights. Are they so captured by these radical activists that they they can't side with you, even though they might actually individually agree with you? What's going on there?

Rep. Julia Letlow:

That was baffling to me, that they would not support the Parents Bill of Rights. We have legislation that was passed in a bipartisan effort in Louisiana, the Parents Bill of Rights. That's where I got the idea from. That was passed by Democrats and Republicans alike, and you saw it play out in the election. Maybe my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and even those who represent that party, were not willing to come out and say that they agreed with me, but voting shows that those parents did agree. They do not want those things happening in their children's schools. They don't want men playing in women's sports. We saw all of that play out in the election this last November. So I think that they really do side with me, secretly. They just won't come out and say it.

Washington Reporter:

And yet, we have an election this November in Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor there, Winsome Sears was speaking at a Northern Virginia Public school this week, and a deranged white woman liberal protester in the audience had a sign that said something like ‘hey, Winsome, if we can't have transgender bathrooms, then you can't share our drinking fountain,’ or something like that. What is going on here with the left on this issue? This permeates beyond just your colleagues. It goes to some of their voters too.

Rep. Julia Letlow:

That was an outrageous sign. I have no idea what was going through her head when she decided to make that. That makes no sense. And again, I don't think that truly represents the electorate. There is this subset of people that will put anything crazy like that on a sign. That's just wild to me. I did see it this morning.

Washington Reporter:

You served in Congress during the Biden administration, where they were investigating parents as domestic terrorists. How would you compare and contrast this Department of Education versus that of its predecessor, Miguel Cardona?

Rep. Julia Letlow:

Night and day. I mean, my goodness, they are finally just doing the right thing. I remember questioning Secretary Cardona about everything from FAFSA not doing their job or education more broadly. There was just failure after failure after failure. And when you're not scared of losing your job, you're able to actually make true reform. And that's what Secretary McMahon has has proven since day one. She didn't seek this out. This is something that President Trump asked her to do, and she is just killing it, and making those true reforms that the Secretary of the Department of Education needed to do and and then it will end with the dismantling of it. I could not be more ecstatic about the difference that I've personally seen between the last administration and this one.

Washington Reporter:

One of the biggest decisions that we saw from the Supreme Court this year happened in my part of town, with Mahmoud vs. Taylor, on the parental rights opt out restoration. Obviously this was specifically an issue with a very liberal public school district in a very liberal state in Maryland. But how do you think that Supreme Court decision is going to reverberate in states like Louisiana and across the country?

Rep. Julia Letlow:

I hope it does, because parents should absolutely be able to opt out. That is nuts. And I think you're finally seeing parents standing up and saying, ‘enough, enough. These are our children. They are not the government’s. We should have a say in what they're allowed to see what books are in their library, and at least be able to make a decision on whether our children should be exposed to that or not.’ So that's a huge win for parents across this country; I think most parents breathed a sigh of relief when that came down, and I truly hope it does reverberate across the country.

Washington Reporter:

We're coming up soon on Labor Day, the other relevant part of your Ed and Workforce Committee work. How do you think the Trump administration and your former colleague, now Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, are doing when it comes to supporting American workers?

Rep. Julia Letlow:

I think they're doing a phenomenal job. The secretary is a personal friend of mine. We served in Congress together, and I love what she's doing right now with her going around listening to the people in this country and how businesses and the labor market and how educational institutions can provide that next generation of workers; she is really trying to build up our labor right here at home. I could not be more ecstatic about the president choosing Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and the work that she's put in. There is no doubt in my mind; I've seen her work ethic. She will work night and day to make sure that she's delivering for the American people.

Washington Reporter:

Part of her tour is pitching the various elements of the One big, Beautiful Bill. Obviously, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime,, all of these things. As you've been traveling throughout your district during recess. What’s been the reception to that piece of legislation from your constituents?

Rep. Julia Letlow:

It's just a matter of educating them on what exactly we did. It was a huge bill, as you know, and what I tell people is, if you read all 900 and something pages, you will find something in there that will benefit you. And what I'm trying to hit home is that this was a relief to the hard working middle class American family, families just like mine. And so I'm able to go in and talk about things that directly affect parents. For example, the Child Tax Credit going from $1,700 to $2,200, for our Social Security, the deduction there is going to impact our senior citizens. There's something in there for everyone, and when it hits their pocketbook, their bottom line, I think they're going to be very appreciative of the One Big, Beautiful Bill that the president pushed through.

Washington Reporter:

Finally, what are you up to for Labor Day weekend? Any fun Letlow family traditions?

Rep. Julia Letlow:

I have a seven and a five year old, so I imagine I'll be in a swimming pool somewhere.