Oklahoma Education Chief Faces Bipartisan Criticism Over Fund Management

Ryan Walters defends conservative reforms as scrutiny grows over his handling of federal education funds and governance issues.

Ryan Walters, Oklahoma's State Superintendent, has faced bipartisan criticism for mismanaging federal education funds, earning failing marks on 32 out of 52 indicators from the Department of Education.
Republican lawmakers and school superintendents have expressed frustration with Walters' lack of transparency and delays in providing funding estimates to schools, impacting their planning and resource allocation.
During a contentious CNN interview, Walters accused the network and left-wing administrators of conducting a smear campaign, while deflecting questions about his administration's performance.
Walters continues to advocate for conservative reforms, including placing the Bible in classrooms and opposing federal mandates on transgender policies in schools.
The controversy reflects broader tensions over state-level education governance following the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.