JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The State of Wyoming is taking its strongest stand yet against federal overreach, and the pushback comes in the education realm under a newly-appointed superintendent, who talked of breaking free from bullying federal control.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder doubled down on his challenge of a Biden Administration executive order directing all state and local agencies to update their non-discrimination policies to include new provisions for ‘gender identity and sexual orientation,’ or risk the loss of millions in federal lunch dollars.
To that, Schroeder initially bristled. He is now telling DC to pound sand; the state will not comply.
“This move not only represents the latest example of federal overreach, but one more blatant violation of state sovereignty. Our Wyoming Constitution already prohibits discriminating against any human being, for any reason. We don’t need the Nanny State holding our hands and telling us how to interpret or apply our laws,” Schroeder said.
The superintendent added he has been in close contact with other state education leaders as well as Wyoming attorney general Bridget Hill. The upshot of these meetings, Schroeder said, is the state is willing to risk losing some $40 million a year in federal funding for school lunches rather than bow to a “bully government.”
“We will not comply,” Schroeder said. “Vulnerable children will not go unfed in Wyoming, and we will not allow boys in girls’ locker rooms. We categorically reject gender ideology and will not bow to the coercive will of a bully government.”
Background
On May 5, 2022, President Biden’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that all state and local agencies funded by its sub-agency, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), ‘must’ update its non-discrimination policies to include new provisions for ‘gender identity and sexual orientation,’ or risk the loss of millions in federal lunch dollars.
The USDA is acting pursuant to an executive order signed on January 20, 2021, directing federal agencies to promulgate or revise rules enforcing the Administration’s new ‘Anti-Discrimination’ mandates. This matters because the Wyoming Department of Education would fall under the mandate’s affected category, as it receives about $40 million per fiscal year from FNS.
Earlier this month, Schroeder blasted the mandate on legal political and moral grounds. After receiving assurance from the State Treasurer Curt Meier and others, he said Wyoming is prepared to go it alone.
Breaking free
“The Biden Administration gets it wrong again because this action is illegal, which is why 26 State Attorneys General are linking arms and demanding a retraction. Undoubtedly, the USDA will face a flurry of lawsuits once rules made pursuant to the Executive Order are promulgated,” Schroeder said. “We can cut ties with these federal lunch dollars and still provide for Wyoming kids. It only requires two things: the will of the Wyoming people, and the determination of Wyoming’s governing leaders. If we don’t fight this, we enable it.”
Schroeder called for Wyomingites to appeal to their local legislators concerning the prospect of breaking free from dependence on federal dollars.
“Washington has shown its hand, and will never stop at forcing its woke agenda and ever-changing value system on people who refuse to embrace it. Be fully assured, this is not the end—they will be back (ie: boys in girls sports, forced usage of pronouns, etc.)”
To get there, Schroeder admitted it would be a phased endeavor, but “completely doable.” The education head expects the Wyoming Legislature will eventually have to weigh in at some point.
“We need to move on this or we will forever be under the feds’ thumb, beholden to a controlling political mindset that wants to own every aspect of our lives, including our belief system. This is a defining moment for the identity and future of Wyoming and its schools. We must break free if we are to be free,” Schroeder said.
