Why Rep. Julia Letlow wants to abolish the Department of Education, Tim Scott delivers at NRSC, and more

RNC united behind Joe Gruters, why Tom Cotton and Tulsi Gabbard want Joe Francesson at NSA, inside Rep. Jason Smith’s farm tour, and more!

August 28, 2025

Let’s dive in.

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

2. Heard on the Hill

3. EDITORIAL: Bill Pulte’s leadership at FHFA restores trust in housing finance

4. EDITORIAL: Nine months in, Sen. Tim Scott delivers at the NRSC

5. EXCLUSIVE: Lawmakers want Chris Wright to emphasize U.S.-South Korean civilian nuclear efforts at APEC

6. SCOOP: RNC members rally behind new leadership

7. SCOOP: Why Tom Cotton and Tulsi Gabbard back Joe Francescon at NSA

8. SCOOP: How Rep. Jason Smith is taking Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill and trade agenda to American farmers

9. SCOOP: Congress praises Trump's warning to European Union about attacks on American tech companies

10. OPINIONATED: Col. Hayatullah Parwani on how Trump can right Biden’s wrongs in Afghanistan, Kevin Byrne and Andre Cushing on how Trump’s energy dominance will power states, Doug Blair on the problems plaguing Democrats, and Laura Hardin on why she uprooted her life to support a free Afghanistan.

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

by Matthew Foldi

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.”

Heard on the Hill

• A GRATEFUL NATION: President Donald Trump hosted Gold Star families in the Oval Office this week; the families’ loved ones were killed at Abbey Gate in the Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) during President Joe Biden’s failed withdrawal. The Washington Reporter scooped everyone on this story.

• IRS “RESISTANCE” CONTROVERSY: Last week, the IRS put a senior attorney who wrote about "resisting" President Donald Trump on leave. Hill sources tell us this attorney was involved in major policies at the IRS under President Joe Biden, including the controversial 2024-14 revenue ruling. Expect more reviews of this attorney's actions while Biden politicized the agency.

• CREDIT UNION MOVES: Last week, Carrie Hunt stepped down as Chief Advocacy Officer at America’s Credit Unions. Hill and financial services sources are abuzz about potential replacements for this prominent role. Sources tell us to expect one of three options: (1) an internal promotion like Trey Hawkins, the current deputy; (2) hiring from another trade such as Jason Stverak, advocacy lead for the influential Defense Credit Union Council; or (3) someone from the administration, such as Sarah Bang, the chief of staff at NCUA.

• CONFIRMATION STATION: The Washington Reporter will be extensively covering confirmations this Fall as we deal with a potential Senate rules change to get nominees through faster. Expect most of the nominees to eventually get confirmed, however, a source tells us there are four to watch who may have trouble getting 50 votes:

  • Herschel Walker, nominee to be Ambassador to Bahamas, over campaign-era controversies.

  • Brian Quintenz, nominee to be the CFTC Commissioner, is facing substantial crypto industry opposition and has had his vote repeatedly delayed by the White House.

  • Paul Ingrassia, nominee to be the Special Counsel, is having trouble getting the Committee votes.

  • David LaCerte, nominee to lead the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is facing opposition from conservative activists like Laura Loomer for his alleged role defending progressive banks who were targeted by Louisiana for debanking gun owners and gun stores.

• SMITH SMACKED DOWN: Jack Smith, the former special counsel who investigated President Donald Trump, set his sights on Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) this week, calling a potential investigation from Cotton “imaginary and unfounded,” via Smith’s lawyers. Cotton accused Smith of violating the Hatch Act, and a Senate source told the Washington Reporter that “this vicious attack [from Smith’s legal team] falsely accusing Senator Cotton of playing politics is another example of Jack Smith’s politicizing the Justice system. Smith should be ashamed of himself.”

• WE MISS YOU, RENEE: Last week, Travis Renee Baldwin — the most talented makeup artist in town — was tragically killed. For years, Baldwin served as a mentor, mother, therapist, and so much more to so many, including to our own Matthew Foldi. Over the weekend, a large crowd gathered at Baldwin’s beloved Zephaniah Farm Vineyard, where she worked for years, to celebrate her incredible legacy. Tiana Lowe Doescher wrote a wonderful tribute to Baldwin here.

EDITORIAL: Bill Pulte’s leadership at FHFA restores trust in housing finance

by the Washington Reporter Editorial Board

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has a steadfast leader in Director Bill Pulte — and every American should be thankful for his leadership. While the liberal media and Democrats have attacked Pulte with everything under the sun, the one thing that they haven’t said is that he is wrong — and that is because everything Pulte has done at FHFA is by the books, is fair, and is exactly what we need .

His leadership deserves our praise and the Washington Reporter is grateful for his service. Here is why we should all be thankful that President Donald Trump made the decision to appoint Pulte to lead FHFA.

First, Pulte’s work to stop mortgage fraud is not a witch hunt — but rather is a necessary enforcement of the law. By launching a public tipline for reporting fraudulent mortgage activities, Pulte is addressing a real problem that has allowed the rich and powerful like Sen. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.), Lisa Cook, and Tish James to abuse the mortgage system. Why should these politicians get special treatment and lower mortgage rates, just because they are in power?

EDITORIAL: Nine months in, Sen. Tim Scott delivers at the NRSC

by the Washington Reporter Editorial Board

Nine months into his tenure as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Sen. Tim Scott’s (R., S.C.) tenure has been a massive success. The true measure of success won’t come until the election, but so far, Senate and political sources tell us that Senator Scott has exceeded all expectations to deliver an NRSC that is formidable, well-funded, on message, and poised for a strong midterm.

One of Scott’s most impressive achievements is the NRSC’s record-breaking fundraising. The NRSC has repeatedly set fundraising records, which is remarkable for two reasons. First, while it’s the norm for committees to announce more money raised each cycle, this is the first cycle where the White House is aggressively raising money into MAGA Inc. and other entities that competes for the same dollars that the NRSC raises.

Scott has always been known as a fundraising powerhouse for both soft and hard dollars. What has been especially impressive is that his team at the NRSC has translated that success to both the committee and in providing help to Republican incumbents and candidates. After some point, campaign spending has a diminishing return, and Scott’s success has given us the chance to get our message out.

Scott’s NRSC has also shined in candidate recruitment, especially in North Carolina and Michigan. While it would have been a huge coup to get Gov. Brian Kemp (R., Ga.) to run, sources tell us that was never an option — and Scott left no stone unturned in his effort to convince Kemp to get in.

EXCLUSIVE: Lawmakers want Chris Wright to emphasize U.S.-South Korean civilian nuclear efforts at APEC

by Matthew Foldi

In advance of this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) energy meeting, a group of Republican members of Congress wrote to Energy Secretary Chris Wright requesting enhanced cooperation between America and South Korea on civilian-nuclear efforts; this summer’s APEC will be held in South Korea.

The lawmakers who wrote to Wright in the letter — first obtained by the Washington Reporter — are Reps. Scott Fitzgerald (R., Wis.), Glenn Grothman (R., Wis.), Jen Kiggans (R., Va.), John McGuire (R., Va.), and Tony Wied (R., Wis.); they want American and South Korean civil-nuclear cooperation to be a “core priority at upcoming international forums and in future bilateral engagements.”

“Closer cooperation with South Korea on nuclear energy offers significant benefits for the United States, including economic gains, job creation, supply chain security, and the ability to meet rising power demand,” the lawmakers wrote.

Wied explained to the Reporter why enhanced partnership between America and South Korea benefits his constituents in Wisconsin, “it's in the best interest of Wisconsinites, and all Americans, that we continue strengthening our partnerships with our allies to combat China’s ongoing aggression. I'm proud to stand with my colleagues to reaffirm the importance of our nuclear alliance with South Korea."

SCOOP: RNC members rally behind new leadership

by Matthew Foldi

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has its leadership in place ahead of the 2026 elections, with Florida’s Joe Gruters unanimously winning the election to succeed Michael Whatley, who recently announced his campaign to succeed Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.).

Joining Gruters atop the GOP as co-chair is Kentucky’s KC Crosbie. Following Gruters’s ascension, several RNC committee members told the Washington Reporter that they are excited for what’s next for the organization.

“President Trump has placed his trust in Chairman Joe Gruters, and now the Republican National Committee has as well,” Emily Novotny Chance, an RNC National Committeewoman from Minnesota, told the Reporter. “I’m excited to work together to strengthen our party and deliver victories in 2026, especially here in Minnesota.”

Republicans across America told the Reporter that they are eager to get to work with Gruters and his new team.

“It's great to see a new RNC Chair who will continue the excellent work that Michael Whatley started and will lead us to success in the midterms,” Jackie Sackstein, the chair of the Maryland Young Republicans, told the Reporter. “We're all going to be better off if Chair Gruters can make America look more like his home state of Florida — and in Maryland, we're eager to work with him immediately.”

SCOOP: Why Tom Cotton and Tulsi Gabbard back Joe Francescon at NSA

by Matthew Foldi

Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) and Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) are leading the charge to back a crucial intelligence nominee into his role.

This collaboration comes after Cotton recently praised Gabbard’s revamp of the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Now, both are going all out to defend Joe Francescon’s nomination to be Deputy Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) amidst a trickle of criticism of Francescon.

Cotton, who chairs the Senate’s Select Committee on Intelligence, said that “Francescon’s wealth of experience makes him a great choice as Deputy Director of the National Security Agency.”

“I know Joe will help safeguard the United Stares from the wide-range of global threats we face,” Cotton added.

A source familiar with Cotton’s thinking explained to the Washington Reporter that “Francescon is a highly-respected operator who has a ton of experience taking on China and Iran.”

SCOOP: How Rep. Jason Smith is taking Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill and trade agenda to American farmers

by Matthew Foldi

As a multi-generation family farmer, Rep. Jason Smith (R., Mo.) knows a thing or two about agriculture. And Smith, the chairman of the House’s Ways and Means Committee, spent much of congressional recess visiting with farmers in and around his district in rural Missouri.

The Washington Reporter obtained Smith’s recess schedule, and the lawmaker visited almost two dozen farms and other agribusinesses across southeast and south cepitching the wins of both President Donald Trump’s myriad trade deals and of the One Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBB).

As Chair of Ways and Means, Smith has been in the driver’s seat about the OBBB’s passage; when he wasn’t in Missouri during recess, he was hitting the trail with his GOP colleagues, like Rep. Vince Fong (R., Calif.), who previously spoke with the Reporter about Smith’s messaging successes on the OBBB.

Throughout congressional recess, House and Senate Republicans — along with Trump himself — have made the case to voters that the GOP’s signature legislative win of 2025 will help Americans’ bottom line.

SCOOP: Congress praises Trump's warning to European Union about attacks on American tech companies

by Matthew Foldi

President Donald Trump’s new pressure campaign targeting countries that levy predatory taxes and regulations on American companies got immediate rave reviews from his allies in and out of Congress.

“America, and American Technology Companies, are neither the ‘piggy bank’ nor the ‘doormat’ of the World any longer,” Trump posted in a lengthy Truth Social post. “Show respect to America and our amazing Tech Companies or, consider the consequences!”

“Thank you for your attention to this matter,” the president signed off.

Trump plans to “stand up to Countries that attack our incredible American Tech Companies,” he explained.

“Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology,” he wrote.

OPINIONATED

Op-Ed: Col. Hayatullah Parwani: How President Trump can right the Biden administration’s wrongs in Afghanistan

by Col. Hayatullah Parwani

Four years into the Taliban rule the dark stories continue to emerge from the Taliban: torture, imprisonment, and killing of Afghan forces who are deemed the closest Muslim allied military forces in the world who partnered with America in hunting terrorism in South-Central Asia.

Not too long time ago, partnership with the American military meant invincibility, progress, and morality to its core — that was not true in our case, and the deal with Taliban in Doha was a turning point for a long and crucifying defeat of the Afghans and Americans together, raising serious questions in the minds of friends and foes whether a partnership with current America is worth it.

Afghanistan today is living in the Stone Age, and our people are chained by their rulers with 21st century technology and weapons.

The American deal with the Taliban was a major mistake; however it could have been reversed by President Joe Biden; he never once thought about the consequence of his decisions to abandon Afghans and hand over a historic victory to the Taliban that will change the course of Afghan history and embarrass the U.S.

Op-Ed: Kevin Byrne and Andre Cushing: How President Trump's energy dominance will power states' success

by Kevin Byrne and Andre Cushing

New York’s radical climate policies are driving up costs, short-circuiting our energy supply, and sticking taxpayers with the bill. While progressive lawmakers in Albany push unaffordable mandates and dream of government-run utilities, President Donald Trump is doing what leaders should — putting American energy and working families first.

We remember what energy dominance looked like. During his first term, President Trump made the United States a net exporter of energy for the first time in more than 60 years. He cut red tape, promoted domestic production, and unleashed the full strength of America’s abundant natural resources — creating jobs, lowering costs, and establishing a truly America First foreign policy.

Now, in his second term, he’s returned to form, and our country is benefiting again. President Trump recently announced a blockbuster trade deal with the European Union that includes $750 billion in U.S. energy exports and $600 billion in new investment here at home. Under EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, a proud New Yorker who knows firsthand the damage Albany’s policies have caused, the Trump administration is rolling back the burdensome rules that once strangled American energy.

This is a sharp, and welcome, contrast to what’s happening in places like New York.

Op-Ed: Doug Blair: The Democrats have more than a messaging problem

by Doug Blair

Democrats are presently in their normal state of total disarray. President Donald Trump’s historic return to the White House seems to have caught the party off-guard and scrambling for an explanation.

Of course, the Democrats went through their normal list of guilty parties: men, whites, Russian bots, and brain-addled women and minorities, before concluding their loss was due to messaging. It’s not the policies that are the problem, they reasoned, it’s just the way we communicated them.

Thus, a new post-mortem from leftist think tank Third Way purports to have a panacea to all the Democrats’ woes, stop using stupid language.

“For a party that spends billions of dollars trying to find the perfect language to connect to voters,” the memo reads, “Democrats and their allies use an awful lot of words and phrases no ordinary person would ever dream of saying.”

Op-Ed: Laura Hardin: Why I moved from Oklahoma to Virginia to support a free Afghanistan

by Laura Hardin

I have always been an advocate. They say that God chooses specific parents for specific children because no one can pour into them, love them, and raise them like you can. God creates in the womb a life that fulfills His purpose and is unique to its own. I never saw autism as a major challenge for my son, only a challenge that we would overcome to the extent that it was possible to do so. There is a problem, we will fix it.

If you want to do this parenting of special needs right, an overnight advocate you must become. No one has the responsibility but you. I decided that a normal life was what he would have. Aside from several hours a week in therapy, my son did everything the other kids did in our small town. And that is how I ended up eating Hamburger Helper by the city pool while he was taking swimming lessons. I had a 10:00am lunch break for six weeks, four summers in a row. But he can swim now. People, schools, insurance companies, and sports teams; everywhere you decide to create an equal environment you will have to advocate for that.

I believe to be an advocate, you must have a moral set of absolutes. You must approach the cause knowing there is such a thing as actual truth. Only through the lens of a perfect God do we know the difference between good and evil, right or wrong, and faith, love, and real charity. God has allowed for me to have a very interesting life.