The announcement comes as some GOP governors try to block school districts from requiring masks in schools – and a growing number of school leaders defy them. President Joe Biden speaks about the COVID-19 response and the vaccination program in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2021

President Joe Biden said he's directing the country's top education official to use the full weight of the White House against governors who are blocking school leaders from implementing mask mandates. "I'm directing the secretary of education, an educator himself, to take additional steps to protect our children," Biden said Wednesday. "This includes using all of his oversight authorities and legal action, if appropriate, against governors who are trying to block and intimidate local school officials and educators."

The announcement comes as a handful of Republican governors are trying to block school districts from requiring students and school staff to wear masks – and a growing number of school leaders defy them. "I've said, as I said before: If you aren't going to fight COVID-19, at least get out of the way of everyone else who's trying," Biden said. "We're not going to sit by as governors try to block and intimidate educators protecting our children."

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