In Raleigh, hundreds of scientists, educators, and supporters warned about the generations-long impact of gutting scientific and medical research.
The North Carolina General Assembly has seen a number of bills being introduced ranging from education policy to governmental powers. This week, North Carolina Republican Senators in the Rules Committee moved along legislation that: prohibits phones from being on during classroom instruction, requires state officials to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and restricts the state’s Attorney General from taking legal action against the executive orders of President Donald Trump.
Taking a cue from President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, Republican state lawmakers in North Carolina are beginning to probe state agencies.
Republicans have been in full control of state government spending in North Carolina for the last 14 years. However, the allegations of fraud and waste made by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, have grabbed the attention of conservative politicians.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) recently delivered a floor speech in defense of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In front of a printed image of a SpaceX explosion, Tillis said that “innovation requires pushing the envelope and taking calculated risks.”
Many residents were concerned about Trump’s handling of negotiations with Ukraine and called for the end to billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has initiated significant cuts to crucial agencies such as Veterans Affairs, the National Park Service, and other federal programs.
Despite his claims of independence, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has emerged as a reliable MAGA supporter in Congress. Tillis voted in favor of all of President Trump’s most controversial nominees, including vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and pro-Putin National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard.
But the most telling vote involved Tillis’ decision to confirm Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has an extensive list of misconduct allegations as well as a history of troubling comments reflecting his opposition to women serving in the military.
Less than a month into the 2025 session, North Carolina lawmakers have introduced nearly 300 bills, with hundreds more expected before next month’s filing deadline. However, given the state’s divided government, not all proposals will survive the legislative process.
Following the 2024 election, Republicans fell just one seat short of a supermajority, meaning Democratic Gov. Josh Stein has the power to veto many GOP-backed bills. Despite this dynamic, several key proposals are gaining attention.
Parents, educators, and education advocates are sounding alarms about the Trump administration’s proposal to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). Across the state, parents and teachers have expressed concern over the plan to erase funding from the millions of students who depend on federal education funding.
On Wednesday, North Carolina teachers and parents delivered letters to Senator Thom Tillis’ office, urging the senator to vote to keep the crucial department up and running.
According to the Associated Press, Republicans are considering cutting more than $880 billion in funding from the program that gives healthcare coverage to 80 million adults and children.
While she has essentially no useful experience in public education, McMahon has lots of experience with both being and handling wealthy political donors, and her actual stances regarding education reflect that. In the name of “school choice”, McMahon favors redirecting public funding to private and charter schools that get to pick and choose exactly what kind of students they accept, unlike public schools which provide for all.
McMahon is also a loyal MAGA Republican and has supported Trump’s pledge to dismantle the Department of Education.