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Monday, June 2, 2025

Virginia’s budget surplus grows as revenues beat expectations due to Republican management

Virginia’s general fund revenues rose sharply in April, bucking signs of a national economic cooldown as the state continues to post steady long-time job growth and rake in more tax dollars than projected.

Response to “Trump’s Attack on Offshore Wind is Hurting Virginia. Why Aren’t Republican Leaders Fighting for Us?”

The Virginia Mercury article (May 19, 2025) argues that President Donald Trump’s executive order halting offshore wind project approvals, permits, and funding is detrimental to Virginia’s economy, particularly the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, and criticizes Republican leaders like Governor Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares for not opposing it.

Trump signs order aiming to lower U.S. drug costs to match prices abroad

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday aimed at lowering drug prices by pressuring pharmaceutical companies to align their U.S. pricing models with those in similarly wealthy countries.

Virginia is Ready to close education department as governor touts readiness

With the attempting to shut down the , is now considering how the move will impact operations in the commonwealth.

State and some parents and advocates have expressed concern with President ‘s signing on Thursday of the directing U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to close the agency and move specific operations to other federal agencies.

However, , including Gov. , believe Virginia is ready for the opportunity that the executive order provides, giving states control over how they run public education.

“Virginia is ready to take full responsibility for K-12 education,” said Youngkin, in a statement on Thursday, adding that the commonwealth has created a “high-expectations” agenda that sets strict standards, holds schools accountable and directs resources to those in greatest need.

“We welcome the federal government’s shift of responsibility to the states — and we are grateful that President ‘s executive order does just that,” Youngkin stated. “The EO also makes it clear that there will be no discrimination in the classrooms. We will continue to ensure every student graduates career-, -, or military-ready.”

Students sat outside the U.S. Department of Education building protesting President Donald Trump’s executive order to abolish the agency on March 20, 2025. (Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)

Looking ahead

Pending the litigation and Congressional battle expected to result from Trump’s order, Virginia could likely need additional support to continue providing the services and resources the federal agency has since its establishment in 1979, including ensuring equal educational opportunity and supporting schools, teachers, and research to improve learning outcomes.

Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera said in a statement that while Trump’s order will ensure federal funding will arrive with fewer restrictions, it will also allow the commonwealth to “invest those resources in the most efficient and effective ways that lead to the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes.”

The state education department is also undergoing leadership changes, after Lisa Coons recently resigned as superintendent of public instruction.

Emily Anne Gullickson, former chief deputy secretary of education, will address the public for the first time as the interim superintendent at the Board of Education’s work session on Wednesday.

Board of Education President Grace Creasey said Trump’s move to shut down the nation’s education department “empowers” parents and reduces federal overreach.

“For too long, bureaucrats in Washington have dictated one-size-fits-all policies that fail to address the unique needs of the commonwealth’s students and schools,” Creasey said in a statement. “Returning decision-making authority and funding to the states can foster innovation, accountability, and better educational outcomes. This is about putting parents and state and local leaders back in charge of education.”

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Originally written for VirginiaMercury and it originally published as Virginia is Ready to close education department as governor touts readiness

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