Glenn Youngkin bans critical race theory, ends mask mandates in schools on first day as Virginia governor

On his first day in office, Virginia's newly-elected Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed 11 executive orders, including ones that he campaigned on, such as ending critical race theory and mask mandates in the state's schools.

Among the 11 executive orders are orders allowing parents to opt out of mask mandates in Virginia schools, withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and ending the use of critical race theory, or "the use of divisive concepts, including critical race theory, in public education."

The list of executive orders Youngkin signed are as follows:

• Executive Order Number One delivers on his Day One promise to restore excellence in education by ending the use of divisive concepts, including Critical Race Theory, in public education.
• Executive Order Number Two delivers on his Day One promise to empower Virginia parents in their children’s education and upbringing by allowing parents to make decisions on whether their child wears a mask in school.
• Executive Order Number Three delivers on his Day One promise to restore integrity and confidence in the Parole Board of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

• Executive Order Number Four delivers on his Day One promise to investigate wrongdoing in Loudoun County.

• Executive Order Number Five delivers on his Day One promise to make government work for Virginians by creating the Commonwealth Chief Transformation Officer.

• Executive Order Number Six delivers on his Day One promise to declare Virginia open for business.

• Executive Order Number Seven delivers on his Day One promise to combat and prevent human trafficking and provide support to survivors.
• Executive Order Number Eight delivers on his Day One promise to establish a commission to combat antisemitism.
• Executive Order Number Nine delivers on his Day One promise to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

• Executive Directive Number One delivers on his fulfilling his Day One promise to jumpstart our economy by cutting job killing regulations by 25 percent.

• Executive Directive Number Two delivers on his fulfilling his Day One promise to restore individual freedoms and personal privacy by rescinding the vaccine mandate for all state employees.

Youngkin was sworn in as governor on Saturday, taking over from Democrat Ralph Northam, who pardoned a convicted pedophile before leaving office.