The nuclear fallout from the presidential election has barely settled, but Ryan Walters is already hard at work trying to score a position in the Trump Administration!
We know this because Ryan – a guy who conducts most of his official communication through poorly lit vlogs from the comfort of his office or tan Chevy Traverse – is now releasing fancy memos and press releases in an obvious attempt to impress the Trump transition team and show the president-elect he’s a big boy who’s totally ready to help destroy the US’s Department of Education much like he has Oklahoma’s.
For example, last week Ryan issued a memo titled “Regarding the Elimination of U.S. Department of Education,” where he outlined five things Oklahoma will prioritize to help prepare for the Trump admin.
Surprisingly, none of the action items have anything to do with how the agency will handle and organize book burnings, eliminate kitty litter from all bathrooms, or use taxpayer funding to enrich school privatization benefactors, religious homeschool moms, and other right-wing grifters.
Instead, his priorities focus on more general subjects that float around anti-public education circle jerks that – based on his experience – are probably led by Ryan’s gay porn pal Corey DeAngelis.
For example, here are the new focuses of the Oklahoma Department of Education:
Championing Parents’ Rights: The Biden administration labeled parents as threats and tried to silence their concerns. States, when restored control, will ensure parents’ voices are not just heard but respected.
Ending Social Indoctrination in Classrooms: Federal funds have been used to force radical agendas, like promoting boys in girls' sports and pushing divisive gender and racial ideologies. With block grants, states can reject these mandates and focus on real education over propaganda.
Protecting Patriotism in Curriculum: Schools are pressured to teach books that undermine American values and ignore the truth about American history. By removing federal overreach, states can make sure students learn a patriotic curriculum that respects our country and honors our shared heritage.
That’s good stuff. Nothing says “Ending Social Indoctrination” quite like “Protecting Patriotism in Curriculum,” huh? They don’t conflict at all, do they? While he’s at it, maybe Ryan can focus on making school lunches healthier while also protecting students' rights to drink soda.
Here’s more:
Stopping Illegal Immigration’s Impact on Schools: Open border policies flood schools with unregulated demands, stretching resources meant for American kids. States, free from federal overreach, could manage these impacts in ways that protect classrooms and prioritize their communities.
Blocking Foreign Influence in Our Schools: Federal policies tie funding to outside agendas, allowing China and other adversaries to infiltrate our education system. Without federal strings, states could reject foreign interference and ensure schools promote only American values.
Yep, the guy who wants to force students to read Chinese-made, leather-bound reproductions of ancient religious texts that document the history and philosophical teachings of an immigrant and his followers who settled in the Middle East thousands of years ago also wants to stop “immigration’s impact on schools” and “block foreign influence on schools.”
It’s a good thing Ryan doesn’t know the difference between hypocrisy and hippopotamus, or he’d be really embarrassed!
To follow up on his fancy "big boy" memo, Ryan issued a press release yesterday announcing that he is forming an “education advisory committee” to “oversee” the federal public education policy changes that Trump will impose on America.
Here’s his quote from the press release:
“The future of Oklahoma’s public education is bright with incoming President Donald Trump, who has been a fearless champion of efforts to eliminate the federal bureaucracy that has shut local communities and parents out of the decisions that impact their students’ educations,” said Walters.
“With the much-anticipated changes to come under President Trump, Oklahoma needs to be ready to smoothly adapt while upholding Oklahoma values in public schools and maintaining the highest standards of education for our students. I look forward to announcing committee members in the coming days, individuals who are dedicated to improving Oklahoma’s academic outcomes and getting to work on ways we can continue to champion the priorities outlined in my memo to parents and schools last week.”
Yep, dust off those résumés—and open up your checkbooks—all you Young Presidents hucksters, Christian Nationalist trolls, and everyone else looking to score a free Pac-Man cabinet for the family learning room!
Walters is expecting a deluge of no-strings-attached block grants from President Trump and needs help figuring out which buddies can help him spend it.
The goals of Ryan’s vaunted advisory committee are:
Set clear priorities in alignment with President Trump’s education policies: Identify and prioritize Oklahoma’s educational needs in alignment with the new federal agenda.
Replace federal programs: Develop strategies to replace or revise outdated federal programs, keeping local needs and values at the forefront.
Develop legislative recommendations for President Trump’s education priorities: Provide policy guidance and recommendations to ensure Oklahoma’s education policies align with the broader goals of the Trump administration. This includes proposing new state legislation or policy adjustments that enhance local control and promote conservative values in education.
TL;DR – The goal of the committee is to figure out how to grift federal education dollars set aside for public school students and force religion further into Oklahoma classrooms.
Sure, the press release may not explicitly state that, but let’s be honest—we all know that’s Ryan’s goal.
Well, that and to be named Secretary of Education.
According to Politico, that’s a real possibility:
It will be interesting to see if Ryan can score that coveted gig.
I don't think he's rich, powerful, or polished enough to get it, but it's pretty obvious that even being in the discussion has lit a fuse in Ryan's belly, jolting the Christian Nationalist up like he just chugged a triple latte from the Harbor Mountain Coffee Shop.
Seriously, I must tepidly ask – where has this productivity been over the last two years?
Outside of fighting culture wars, the guy can't accomplish one thing in the Department of Education and was even determined to be a poor organizer and communicator by the LOFT Committee, but in the days following Trump's win, Ryan's issued a memo, press release, and announced plans to form a committee.
Once again, it's like he's the overeager kid in the front of the class, squirming in his seat, awkwardly raising his hand after the teacher asks who wants to lead the line to the lunch room.
"Pick me, Mr. Trump. Pick me!"
Stay with The Lost Ogle; we’ll keep you advised.
