ELECTIONS, POLITICS, & GOVERNMENT
Gov. Cox supports dismantling the Department of Education in new op-ed
Mar 17, 2025, 3:13 PM | Updated: 4:27 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says he supports the idea of dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.
On Monday, an op-ed written by the governor was published in the Washington Examiner. He wrote “Dismantling the Department of Education may sound bold. But it’s also common sense.”
For too long, Washington has imposed a one-size-fits-all approach to education — and it’s not working.
It’s time for a commonsense conversation about winding down the U.S. Department of Education and restoring control to states and local communities. Utah knows what’s best for… pic.twitter.com/R4P1Kv86Fi
— Governor Cox (@GovCox) March 17, 2025
The governor wrote that states should be making decisions on how we educate our kids and proposed some ideas like rewarding states to opt out of federal education programs.
Cox said the Department of Education “has failed to deliver better outcomes for students.”
Reaching a wider audience?
Political and public affairs expert and Inside Sources host Taylor Morgan thinks the governor is trying to reach a wider Republican audience with the op-ed.
“This is new ground for Governor Cox. And again, I think it’s really significant he’s taking this position in the Washington Examiner and not in the Deseret News,” Morgan said.
The Washington Examiner is a D.C.-based outlet, and Morgan said he thinks this could be a sign Cox has ambitions to one day pursue a federal office, like president.
“I believe is one more indicator that Governor Spencer Cox has ambitions for the future and those ambitions could be national.”
However, the governor has previously said he is not interested in running for president.
Related: Education Department plans to lay off 1,300 employees
