PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — With children squiggling behind desks and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on hand with a rapt audience, President Donald Trump Thursday afternoon inked an executive order to abolish the Department of Education and turn over most assignments to the 50 states. Only Congress can abolish it, but the new Department of Government Efficiency, under the direction of Elon Musk, has already cut the Education Department staff in half. Musk, in a conservative conference earlier this year, burnished his conservative credentials by using a chainsaw as a prop while describing his goal to cut the size of the federal government. If past is prologue, the chairman of the Portsmouth School Board is concerned DOGE-style budget cuts to a department formed during the Carter administration will harm a school system where every elementary school except one is a school in which DOE pays for extra academic assistance. Thirteen Portsmouth schools are Title I schools, and most school buildings are about 60 years old. "Title I is a huge proponent for students in low-income areas and for low-income families," said Dr. Cardell Patillo, chairman of the Portsmouth School Board. Title One pays for reading specialists in middle schools. Title One also pays for other special resources. Title One pays for afterschool programs. It pays for extra tutorial assistance for these students who need it," said Patillo Amid Read Across America week, president writing new chapter on education Shortly after President Trump signed the executive order, Youngkin issued a news release to outline how his administration plans to improve public education. On day one of his administration, the Republican signed an executive order to ban critical race theory, which 10 On Your Side determined is not taught in Virginia K-12 schools. He also opened a controversial tip line in which parents could report suspected CRT lessons in schools. Patillo said the governor has not ever visited Portsmouth Schools, and invited him and Trump to do so. "He's been to Hampton Roads, but he has not been specifically to Portsmouth Public Schools," Patillo said of the governor. "I invite the governor [and] I invite President Trump to please come to some public schools to see the work that educators are doing and see the needs these students have. That need is great. Stability is most important for the success of these children."According to NBC News, Mr. Trump later said the Small Business Administration will oversee federal student loans and the Department of Health and Human Services will oversee school nutrition programs. ...read more read less