Betsy DeVos Reflects on Her Tenure as Education Secretary
In a chat with Rick Hess, ex-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who served during Trump's first term, shared some insights for the current nominee, Linda McMahon. Known for her advocacy for education philanthropy and school choice, DeVos's tenure emphasized the significance of gathering a capable team, weathering bureaucratic obstacles, and standing firm in convictions.
As DeVos reminisced, the initial challenge was assembling a capable team. She recounted, "The task of onboarding a competent workforce marked a daunting hurdle alright. I had nominees for assistant-secretary roles stuck in Senate confirmation limbo for over a year." It's a fact, she pointed out, "that those hold-ups impede productivity significantly."
DeVos traced the delays to both Senate procedures and Democratic opposition, although she conceded that "some administrative hurdles also played a part in the delay."
She cautioned McMahon to steer clear of advice from lobbyists who "swarm D.C.'s education scene, many funded by unions." DeVos warned that "casting a critical eye on advice offered by these elites from within the industry's alphabet soup club is your safest route."
Given the potential resistance from within the Education Department, DeVos urged McMahon to be unyielding and draw on the support of dedicated professionals. "You'll encounter a handful of disgruntled staff," she observed, "But remember, even a single dedicated career staffer can have a significant impact."
In terms of specific policies, DeVos found it frustrating to drive school choice legislation forward, especially with the Republican majority controlling Capitol Hill. "Tackling change in Congress," she admitted, "is a grueling exercise in persuasion. You'll have to have some tough discussions about benefits and risks before you win over reluctant lawmakers."
Regarding student loans, DeVos argues that the Biden administration has "eroded the foundation of the federal student loan portfolio." She suggested that the program, which serves as an asset for the national government, is badly undervalued.
Looking back on her time as Secretary, DeVos confessed she wished she'd taken a more aggressive tack right off the bat. "Four years may seem like an eternity at the outset," she mused, "but time moves at breakneck speed, and even a minute can make a difference."
She reflected that some issues with broad, bipartisan support, such as expanding career and technical education options, progressed at a glacial pace. Regrettably, she noted, "Many laws that enjoyed currency still languish in Congress today "
[2] – Note from the Enrichment Section:
Betsy DeVos's interview with Rick Hess highlighted her eagerness to see a new Trump administration advance policy around school choice and rolling back the federal K-12 role. While she didn't offer specific guidance for her successor, Linda McMahon, DeVos's background and experiences suggest that she would advocate for a focus on school choice policies and reducing the federal role in K-12 education.
During the interview, DeVos expressed her hope for a new Trump administration to push forward policies on school choice and reduce the federal role in K-12 education. In contrast, McMahon, the potential nominee, might face challenges in assembling a capable team, as DeVos faced lengthy Senate confirmation delays for assistant-secretary roles during her tenure in the Trump administration's Department of Education.
