Detroit Free Press: Whitmer isn’t stopping Trump, she’s denying families options
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg urge Gov. Whitmer, Michigan to opt into the Education Freedom Tax Credit.
Michigan has long embodied the innovative, determined spirit that has propelled America to greatness. From Henry Ford’s Model T, which revolutionized car assembly and made vehicles available to the masses, to the simple brilliance of the tri-color stoplight that eased Motor City congestion, Americans from this great state have met everyday challenges with practical problem solving — refusing to accept stagnation or settle for limits.
Michiganders have a unique opportunity yet again to showcase their spirit of ingenuity: by supporting education freedom.
But Gov. Gretchen Whitmer refuses to act. We’re calling on the governor to seize an urgent opportunity to give Michigan parents the power to choose the best educational options for their children.
Whitmer’s record on education choice
Our travels across the nation and conversations with parents, teachers, legislators, and students confirm that Americans are tired of top-down, one-size-fits-all policies that trap students in failing schools. That’s why President Donald Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts Act established the Education Freedom Tax Credit, the largest federal expansion of education choice in history. This initiative provides a tax credit to individuals who contribute to organizations that provide scholarships to attend private schools, receive tutoring services, procure services for students with disabilities or participate in after-school programs.
This historic measure, now embraced by 27 governors from both sides of the aisle, can again refuel Michigan’s engine, empowering families, expanding opportunity and keeping the Great Lakes State moving forward.
Yet Whitmer has consistently denied her constituents opportunities for education freedom. She has repeatedly vetoed education choice bills passed by the legislature. But despite massive taxpayer investments in Michigan’s public education system, according to The Nation’s Report Card, Michigan ranks 44th nationally in 4th-grade reading and 31st in 8th-grade math.
Why supporters say public schools wouldn’t lose funding
Whitmer’s record of education choice skepticism now targets Trump’s Education Freedom Tax Credit. Earlier this month, Whitmer dismissed it as a “high-level talking point,” wrongfully claiming that there is not enough information to opt-in. Yet, the Department of the Treasury has released a revenue procedure giving states the opportunity to signal their intention to opt-in to the program. The Department of Education and the Department of the Treasury released a joint fact sheet spelling out exactly how states opt in, how scholarship-granting organizations qualify, as well as information pertaining to family eligibility and strict safeguards ensuring at least 90 percent of funds reach students.
The roadmap is clear. Continued inaction is not prudent leadership; it is partisan delay.
Despite critics’ claims, the Education Freedom Tax Credit will in no way “hollow out” public schools. In fact, this speculation couldn’t be further from the truth: the initiative does not take a single dollar away from public schools, and it doesn’t cost Michigan taxpayers a dime. Instead, it injects new funding into education through private donations amplified by federal tax relief, not government spending. It creates competition we know is associated with improved school performance, and crucially, it allows students to access tutoring, disability supports, textbooks, and other critical resources while remaining in their existing public school, if they choose.
There have been calls from the Michigan Legislature — including Senate Resolution 88 of 2025, introduced by Sen. Thomas Albert — urging Whitmer to opt Michigan in. Her hesitation speaks volumes.
What the governor must realize is that she is not denying Trump a victory; she is denying Michigan families their right to choose the best education for their child’s unique needs.
Michigan, the Education Freedom Tax Credit propels your pioneering spirit: unleashing unprecedented amounts of opportunity for students to fulfill their academic potential.
The Trump Administration is ready to partner with you — opt in and refuel Michigan’s engine of opportunity, so that every child can drive toward their academic destiny.