Youngkin’s bombshell first day: banned CRT, launched Loudoun County investigation, established school choice
Maria Wheeler
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Glenn Youngkin, Virginia’s first Republican governor since 2009, made waves on his first day while signing nine executive orders and two executive directives.
“It’s Day One, and we are going to work just like we promised,” said Governor Youngkin. “The important steps we are taking today begins the work of restoring excellence in education, making our communities safer, opening Virginia for business and reinvigorating job growth, and making government work for the people, and not the other way around.”
“My Day One Game Plan also includes 59 pieces of legislation and a package of more than a dozen budget amendments I am working on with General Assembly leaders,” he continued, “Including our efforts to double the standard deduction, eliminate the grocery tax, and end the tax on the first $40,000 in veteran retirement pay. It’s a new day in Virginia, but the work is only beginning.”
Youngkin’s nine executive orders accomplished the following:
- Banned Critical Race Theory in public education
- Affirmed Virginia parents’ right to have a say in their child’s education, including whether they wear a mask to school
- Terminated the current Virginia Parole Board and hires 5 “highly qualified” replacements to “restore integrity and confidence in the Commonwealth’s System of Criminal Justice”
- Launched a full investigation into Loudoun County School Board and administrators who “withheld key details and knowingly lied to parents about the [sexual] assaults” committed by a male student in a skirt that occurred via liberal bathroom policies
- Established the position of Commonwealth Chief Transformation Officer to evaluate and improve the performance of the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Declared Virginia open for business
- Established a commission to prevent human trafficking and provide support to survivors.
- Established a commission to combat antisemitism
- Withdrew from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative due to the increased consumer cost for utilities under the RGGI
The commonwealth’s 74th governor also signed two executive directives that will “cut job regulations by 25%” and get rid of the Covid vaccine mandate for state employees.
“@GlennYoungkin now allow educational dollars to leave this school district to be applied to any private school or school of choice,” tweeted one person.
“The political predators at Loudoun County Schools are under investigation,” tweeted Christopher F. Rufo.
Not everyone was celebrating the governor’s first day accomplishments, however.
“Glenn Youngkin just removed the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion section of the Virginia Governor’s website. Sickening,” someone tweeted.
“We’re grateful to see that the peaceful transition of power in Richmond today is free of the election lies and conspiracies that Glenn Youngkin began his campaign on,” tweeted the Virginia Democrats.
“The spirit of Virginia is alive and well. And together we will strengthen it,” Youngkin said. “Together we’ll renew the promise of Virginia, so it will be the best place to live, work and raise a family.”