Utah Governor Spencer Cox supports massive layoffs at US Department of Education, calls it a step toward common sense reform – The Times of India

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has expressed his strong support for the recent round of layoffs at the US Department of Education, labeling the decision as a necessary step toward reform. The layoffs, which accounted for nearly half of the department’s federal workforce, have significantly reduced the staff from 4,133 to approximately 2,183 employees. Cox’s comments, published in an op-ed in The Washington Examiner on March 16, 2025, emphasize his belief that the federal government should not be in charge of education. Instead, he argued, states should have more control over their educational systems.
In the wake of these layoffs, which followed multiple promises from former President Donald Trump to eliminate the department entirely, Cox framed the move as part of a broader push for educational reform. As reported by KSL, Cox stated, “Dismantling the Department of Education may sound bold. But it’s also common sense.” His argument centers on the idea that education has always been a state and local responsibility, and that federal intervention has hindered innovation and wasted taxpayer dollars.
Federal government’s impact on education
Cox’s concerns about the Department of Education are rooted in its expansion over the past five decades. In his op-ed, Cox cited the department’s massive budget of $268 billion last year, of which $68 billion was allocated to states and school districts through grants. However, as quoted by KSL, Cox noted that this funding came with numerous bureaucratic requirements that often complicate the educational process. He highlighted Utah’s struggle to meet federal criteria to access funds for programs such as Title I and Title II, which he said added “expensive, time-consuming hoops” for the state to jump through.
The Governor also pointed out that these federal mandates have had negative effects on the state’s educational staff. “In some Utah classrooms, paraprofessionals do much of the teaching because licensed teachers are overwhelmed by federal paperwork,” Cox said, according to KSL.
Calls for state-led solutions and tax credits
While Cox supports dismantling the Department of Education, he acknowledged that some states may be hesitant to opt out of federal funding. In his op-ed, Cox proposed a solution in the form of the LEARN Act, which would provide tax credits to residents of states that choose to withdraw from federal education programs. He believes that this would allow states to retain more of their tax dollars and make local decisions that reflect the needs of their students, without federal oversight.
As quoted by KSL, Cox concluded, “Washington doesn’t have all the answers. It’s time to trust states and local communities to do what they do best.”