KIRO NEWSRADIO OPINION

Gee Scott: Killing the Department of Education will return segregation to schools

Mar 22, 2025, 5:04 AM

department of education...

A child drinks out of water fountain. (File photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP)

(File photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP)

President Trump has signed an executive order directing U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to dismantle the Department of Education while bypassing Congress. Trump’s administration has previously criticized the department’s budget and stagnant student test scores.

He said that programs like Title I for low-income schools and special education funding will remain unaffected. However, Democrats warned the move could harm low-income families and students, while some Republicans support redirecting funds back to the states.

Gee warns of school segregation

During a recent episode of “The Gee and Ursula Show,” co-host Gee Scott shared his thoughts on the closure and why he believes it could return segregation to schools.

“By the way, the state of Washington has more finances than Mississippi or Alabama. When the states are trying to figure out how to make do, they will go back to segregation of schools in these states because there’s gonna be people that voted for this administration,” Gee said.

Ursula, co-host of “Gee and Ursula,” responded to Gee, partially agreeing but also highlighting that the more rural the school district, the less money they will likely have.

“Some districts will fare OK if that goes away, but the more rural the school districts, those are the ones that are going to be impacted the most,” Ursula said.

Listen to the full discussion below.

More from Gee and Ursula: Ursula pans plan to garnish child support payments of low-income families

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio. 

Gee and Ursula Show

KIRO Newsradio Opinion

Katie Wilson gun violence plan seattle...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘You’re probably going to get Care Bears showing up’: Jake rips Seattle mayor’s gun violence plan

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson released a gun violence plan that would move $5 million to the city's CARE Department. Jake thinks it landed with a thud.

4 hours ago

tacoma (1)...

John Curley Show

‘The facts don’t matter when you get the mob all worked up’: Curley defends Tacoma restaurant owners caught in boycott

Two Tacoma brothers who donated $1,250 to oppose Washington's income tax are watching their businesses get torched by a boycott built on what John Curley called a false premise.

18 hours ago

seattle seahawks macdonald...

Gee Scott

Gee: Wait, what?! Mike Macdonald just showed us what leadership really looks like

I already respected Mike Macdonald. Today, I respect him even more. Think about the timing of what this man just chose to share.

23 hours ago

affordable housing...

Jake Skorheim

Jake: Can Seattle learn from its affordable housing mistake?

Seattle has been running this experiment for a decade with "affordable housing," and the results are in. Good intentions, bad math.

24 hours ago

ask ursula dinner check...

Ursula Reutin

Ask Ursula: Am I petty for wanting a separate check at family dinner?

Dear Ursula, I love getting together with my family at restaurants, but when it comes to paying the bill, I always dread it.

1 day ago

Photo: Washington Senator Jamie Pedersen spoke on a new bill. wa payroll tax...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘That feels like a threat’: Jake flags Sen. Pedersen’s payroll tax warning if WA voters repeal the millionaires tax

Jake flags Sen. Pedersen's warning on payroll tax if WA voters repeal the millionaires tax, raising critical economic concerns.

1 day ago

Gee Scott: Killing the Department of Education will return segregation to schools