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Former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin Talks Education Freedom Tax Credit
Brief
Former Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin used his Bloomberg interview to press governors to join Empowering America's Parents and opt into the Education Freedom Tax Credit created by the Working Families Tax Cut Act. Youngkin (Speaker 5) described the program as privately funded scholarships — donors can give up to $1,700 for an immediate federal deduction — that cover tuition, tutoring, equipment, transportation and services for disabled students, stressing it takes no state education dollars. He said 30 states have opted in, 20 have not, and set a January 1, 2027 opt‑in deadline. Youngkin framed the policy as an affordability and education‑reform measure, citing that 75% of voters rank K–12 among their top three issues and asserting 60–70% of students are not proficient in reading and math.
The conversation moved to the economy and data‑center policy: Youngkin tied elevated gas prices to the Middle East conflict and cited crude near $75 a barrel, argued GDP (1.5% last quarter) masks stronger consumer and business investment, and backed local control for data‑center approvals. He highlighted a Virginia law he signed to charge large power users higher, called for developers to bring power behind the meter, and noted substantial supply‑chain jobs tied to data centers. When asked about 2028, Youngkin repeatedly said he does not anticipate being on the primary debate stage and is focused on winning 2026 races and driving governors to act on the tax credit.
Why it matters
Glenn Youngkin (former governor of Virginia) launched Empowering America's Parents, a multi‑million‑dollar media campaign to push governors to opt into the Education Freedom Tax Credit created by President Trump's Working Families Tax Cut Act; Youngkin said donors can give up to $1,700 and receive an immediate full federal tax deduction to fund scholarships for tuition, tutoring, equipment, transportation and services for students with disabilities — all paid by private donations and tax credits, not state dollars.
Key details
- Youngkin said 30 states have already opted in and 20 have not, and he urged governors to opt in by January 1, 2027, calling holdouts political rather than practical.
- On scope and need, Youngkin asserted the program would make “over 90%” of U.S. students eligible and argued it’s near‑universal school choice; he also cited polling and performance figures — claiming 75% of voters rank K–12 among their top three issues and that 60–70% of students are not proficient in reading and math.
- On data centers, Youngkin argued approvals should be local, pushed hyperscalers to put power behind the meter, and noted Virginia law he signed allows regulators to create customized rates so large power users pay more; he said data center development creates tens of thousands of supply‑chain jobs in Virginia.
- On politics and timing, Youngkin told hosts he does not expect to be on the 2028 debate stage and is focused on 2026 and getting governors to opt in; he criticized teacher unions as primary opponents of the tax credit and warned against a leftward shift in Democratic primaries.