Fact Check: Congressman Edwards Newsletter

 Congressman Edwards sent out a newsletter full of claims about taxes, education, and the economy. But once you dig a little deeper, you find missing details, questionable assumptions, and even direct contradictions. Below are the top 4 stand-out claims and a clearer picture of what's really going on, backed by up-to-date sources.

🟡 1. Budget Priorities — Who Really Benefits?

The newsletter says Congress is working to "keep taxes low, strengthen our borders, bolster our economy..."

This sounds appealing, but it’s vague. Historically, promises to "keep taxes low" have primarily benefited higher-income households and corporations — not average families or small businesses (Tax Policy Center, 2023).

What's missing? The newsletter doesn’t mention what programs might be reduced or eliminated to make up for lower tax revenues — including education, health, or infrastructure programs that directly affect Western North Carolina.

🟡 2. Is the Department of Education Really Closing?

The congressman says President Trump "took a major step forward in reforming our education system by signing an executive order to shut down the Department of Education."

Yes, Trump signed Executive Order 14242, which directs agencies to plan for closing the DOE. But here’s the key: an executive order alone cannot close a federal agency — that takes an act of Congress (Congressional Research Service, 2024).

However, the Department is not fully operational as the newsletter might suggest. In March 2025, the DOE announced a large-scale reduction-in-force, laying off nearly 50% of its workforce (U.S. Department of Education Press Release, March 2025).

These layoffs have disrupted offices critical to rural and low-income areas, including the Office of Federal Student Aid and the Office for Civil Rights (NPR, March 2025). Meanwhile, the administration has proposed shifting some DOE responsibilities to other agencies such as the Small Business 

Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services (NY Post, March 2025).

So while the department technically still exists, it is in a state of active dismantling, not business-as-usual.

🟡 3. The Real Drivers Behind Test Scores

The newsletter blames the Department of Education and "historically high tax dollars" for low student test scores.

This oversimplifies a complex issue. Education outcomes are influenced far more by poverty, racial and economic inequality, and state-level funding decisions than by federal spending levels (NCES Condition of Education, 2024).

In fact, the DOE has historically delivered vital support to exactly the communities facing these challenges — including many in Western North Carolina — by funding programs like Title I for low-income schools, IDEA for students with disabilities, and rural education assistance (Department of Education Budget Summary, FY 2025).

🟡 4. The DETERRENT Act & The Confusing Role of the DOE

The newsletter highlights the DETERRENT Act, a bill meant to prevent foreign influence — especially from the Chinese Communist Party — in American universities.

It’s worth noting that universities are already required to report foreign gifts and contracts over $250,000 under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act (Department of Education, 2024). The bill adds more paperwork but doesn’t present clear evidence of widespread foreign infiltration.

Here’s the real puzzle: the DETERRENT Act assigns new responsibilities to the Department of Education to enforce these rules. If the department is supposedly on its way out, why is Congress giving it more authority and duties?

This is a clear contradiction — Congress is assigning new work to an agency the Executive Branch is actively trying to dismantle.

The Bottom Line

🔹 The DOE is being dismantled, even though Congress has not passed any law to abolish it, as would normally be required. 

🔹 Claims of widespread foreign threats and federal waste are unsubstantiated. 

🔹 Tax promises sound good but ignore the likely cuts to vital public programs.

For voters in Western North Carolina and beyond, this isn’t just about slogans — it’s about understanding the real impact of these policies on our schools, families, and communities.

Take Action: Hold Your Congressman Accountable 

If you live in Western North Carolina or are represented by this congressman, you have every right to speak up. Your representative is pushing policies that could dismantle the Department of Education, burden schools with unnecessary bureaucracy, and cut critical public services — all while framing it as simple "tax relief" or "education reform."

Below is a sample email you can use or adapt to make your voice heard. Feel free to personalize it with your own perspective or experiences.

Subject: Concern About DOE Closure, DETERRENT Act, and Budget Priorities

Dear Congressman Edwards,

I am writing as a constituent concerned about your recent newsletter and your positions on the budget, the Department of Education (DOE), and the DETERRENT Act.

First, I oppose the closure of the DOE. Federal education programs like Title I, IDEA, and rural school funding are critical to communities like ours in Western North Carolina. Shutting down the DOE risks undermining support for the very students and schools that need it most.

Second, I oppose the DETERRENT Act. Universities already disclose foreign funding under existing laws. Adding more bureaucracy without evidence of a widespread problem seems unnecessary and could cause more harm than good.

Third, I noticed a serious contradiction. You are supporting an executive order to close the DOE, while also backing the DETERRENT Act, which assigns the DOE new responsibilities. If the Department is dismantled, who will handle this new oversight? This inconsistency leaves me concerned about the stability of education policy.

Lastly, you mention lowering taxes, but without explaining what will be cut to make this possible. Tax cuts are meaningless if they come at the expense of essential programs for education, healthcare, or disaster recovery. Constituents deserve to know what trade-offs are being proposed.

I urge you to reconsider these positions and to be transparent with your constituents. We deserve honest leadership that strengthens our communities, not weakens them.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]