McMahon Kicks Off Four-State Tour to Promote Education Control at Local Level

Education Secretary Linda McMahon began a four-state speaking tour Tuesday titled "The Next 250: American Education." The tour is designed to advance the Trump administration's initiative to reduce federal oversight in education and empower local communities and parents.

McMahon's first stop was in Utah, where she delivered a keynote address focusing on returning education to the states, investing in effective learning methods, and expanding educational choices for students and families. "In every decision we make, we are not asking what’s better for growing government power, ideological agendas, or bureaucrats’ careers. We are returning education to its most basic obligation: to nurture the God-given potential of our children," McMahon stated.

Following Utah, McMahon's tour is scheduled to include stops in Nevada, Arizona, and Tennessee. These events will address topics such as workforce training programs, Pell Grants for community college students, and the rising costs of higher education.

This initiative follows the Department of Education's broader "Returning Education to the States" tour, which has emphasized shifting administrative authority to local leaders. Department officials pointed to $3 trillion in federal spending and national assessment results showing low proficiency in math and reading among American students as reasons for the change. An Education Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "That is exactly why the Trump administration is returning education to the states and putting local leaders and parents back into the driver’s seat."

McMahon, who has previously expressed a goal of phasing out the Department of Education by hiring staff committed to eliminating their own positions, has also highlighted the administration's efforts to promote school choice. This includes the upcoming Education Freedom Tax Credit, set to take effect in January 2027, which will offer federal tax credits for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations.

The tour also aligns with an interagency agreement between the Department of Education and the Department of the Treasury. This pact will transfer student lending operations, including defaulted federal student loan collection, to the Treasury Department, marking a step in downsizing the Department of Education by transferring programs to other executive branches.

"As a mother and grandmother, I know firsthand that we only get one opportunity to educate and help our children reach their full God-given potential. That is exactly why the Trump administration is returning education to the states and ushering in the largest expansion of education freedom in American history," McMahon said. "This tour has reached millions of families across our great nation, emphasizing the vital role parents play in their child’s life — not bureaucrats in Washington."

The tour is set to conclude later this month in Tennessee, with a focus on rebuilding public trust, addressing administrative oversight, and reviving academic standards in higher education.