State Representative Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) voted Thursday in support of a resolution aligning with the Trump Administration’s push to shift education authority from the federal government to state control. House Resolution 55, which passed the Michigan House of Representatives, endorses efforts to curb federal overreach in education and calls on Congress to collaborate with the Administration to return decision-making power to the states.
“The Tenth Amendment is clear,” Rigas stated. “Powers not explicitly given to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states. Local educators understand our children’s needs far better than bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.”
President Trump has repeatedly advocated for dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, arguing that states should oversee education policies. The Administration has proposed transferring essential services, such as special education programs and student loans, to other federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of the Treasury. Rigas expressed strong support for this plan, emphasizing that state control of education is both constitutional and practical.
“We’ve spent hundreds of billions of dollars on the Department of Education, yet test scores continue to decline,” Rigas said. “Last year alone, the department spent $268 billion with little to show for it. Managing our children’s education is a state responsibility, and the American people made their voices clear in the last election by electing President Trump and Republican leaders. They want change and an end to federal overreach.”
The resolution passed the Michigan House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon, signaling growing support among state lawmakers for reducing federal involvement in education. Rigas and other proponents argue that local control will lead to better outcomes for students and more efficient use of resources.
This move reflects a broader national debate over the role of the federal government in education, with many conservatives advocating for a return to state and local decision-making. Critics, however, warn that dismantling the Department of Education could lead to disparities in funding and resources across states.
As the discussion continues, Rigas and her colleagues remain committed to advancing policies that prioritize state autonomy in education.
