How would Virginia be affected if President Trump closes the Department of Education? 

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- With President Donald Trump slashing jobs at the federal Department of Education and renewing his calls to close the agency altogether, some are wondering: how could Virginia be affected?

The latest data shows that during the 2022-23 school year, Virginia’s schools received over $2.6 billion in federal funding, making up about 11% of their total revenue.

“I am already hearing from my partners in state and local government, they can’t make up the difference,” Democratic Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) told 8News. 

McClellan argues that money, which is used to ensure students with disabilities and those who are economically disadvantaged, could soon go away along with potential disruptions to The Pell Grant and other financial aid programs. According to Virginia’s State Council of Higher Education, during the 2023-24 school year, nearly 100,000 students in Virginia were awarded about $465 million after they received a Pell Grant for in-state residence.

“For a lot of first-generation students, at-risk students, students in poverty, those programs make sure, first, they have what they need to get to college to succeed,” said McClellan. 

However, Derrick Max, President of The Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, says that closing the Department of Education will actually mean more money for schools because it could be given directly to states or localities. 

“We found that about 60-65 cents of every dollar is wasted on administrative processing at the Department of Education,” Max told 8News. 

Max, who previously ran a private school in Washington D.C., added that federal dollars sometimes have strings attached, giving localities little say in how they use the money. 

“My school would’ve been much better off if the Department of Education had just said you know, you have 98% of kids on free and reduced meals, low income, take this money and just report back on the results that you’re getting,” said Max. 

However, McClellan points out that the Department of Education was founded after the Civil Rights era because states weren’t ensuring every student got a proper education. 

“Asking the states to police their own civil rights violations is putting the fox in charge of the hen house,” said McClellan. 

Ultimately closing the Department of Education would require an act of Congress, something Democrats oppose. 

Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) sent the following statement to 8News:

“The Department of Education plays a crucial role in supporting state and local education systems across the country. I’d like to see some reforms that would ensure decisions regarding student needs are made closer to home, and while making the government more efficient is a good thing, I think there’s a more compassionate way to go about this. Major policy changes, such as the elimination of a federal department, must be thoroughly examined through the legislative process in Congress, where representatives can debate and vote on these significant issues. Maintaining a framework that ensures accountability and guarantees all students access to the resources they need to succeed is paramount. In Congress, I will continue to advocate for policies that enhance educational opportunities and support local initiatives.”