Betsy DeVos: A Potential Return to Education Leadership Under Trump?

As discussions surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet appointments gain momentum, the spotlight has turned to Betsy DeVos, who served as the Secretary of Education during Trump’s first term. Following her previous tenure, DeVos is being considered once again for the influential position, signaling a possible continuation of the educational policies she championed between 2017 and 2021.

Sharing Insights on Potential Candidates

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, DeVos expressed her thoughts on individuals well-suited to follow in her footsteps. “There’s a whole host of Republican governors who have excelled in K-12 education reform and in higher education,” she stated. She highlighted that these leaders possess impressive backgrounds that would enable them to effectively carry forward Trump’s education agenda.

DeVos emphasized Trump’s vision for education during a second term, suggesting it would entail a significant shift in federal education authority. “As President Trump has said, there should definitely be an effort to reduce the power of federal agencies, returning control back to states, local districts, and parents,” she noted.

The Push for Educational Freedom

Under the leadership of GOP-dominated legislatures in states like Florida, Iowa, and Arkansas, expansive school voucher systems were enacted last year. Trump’s campaign rhetoric has consistently included a call for dramatic reforms, including “closing up the Department of Education in Washington, D.C.,” and transferring educational responsibilities to state jurisdictions.

DeVos reinforced this notion, advocating for an educational model that promotes budget allocation through “block granting.” This approach is designed to streamline the distribution of education funds, with an emphasis on removing bureaucratic hurdles. “Let’s talk about eliminating the bureaucracy, not the budget, and how that can be achieved,” DeVos proposed, suggesting that funds be granted directly to states and, ideally, reach families in need.

Policy Advocacy During Trump’s First Term

During her tenure, DeVos became a prominent advocate for school choice policies, vigorously promoting school vouchers and tax credit scholarships that permit public funding for private and religious education. She also took contentious steps to rescind federal guidelines on bathroom access for transgender students, arguing that such matters should be determined at the local or state level.

DeVos streamlined federal oversight within K-12 education, notably limiting the Department of Education’s civil rights investigations and reviewing its related programs. These decisions attracted polarized opinions, drawing both support and criticism from different sectors of the education landscape.

Addressing Unfinished Business

In retrospect, DeVos described her past initiatives as “unfinished business,” referring to efforts to introduce a “freedom” bill supported by Trump, which sought to establish funding pools that parents could utilize at the federal level. She pointed out that many states have already adopted education freedom policies, while others still lag behind. This new Congress may be poised to introduce legislation that could provide all children, irrespective of their state, with greater access to educational opportunities through scholarship organizations. “This is a crucial component that we need to address,” she concluded.

The Current Landscape of Education Policies

In stark contrast to the Trump administration’s educational policies, President Biden has focused on bolstering public school funding, especially in economically disadvantaged areas. Biden’s American Rescue Plan allocated significant resources to support schools affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout his presidency, he also championed student debt relief initiatives, advocating for financial assistance to alleviate the burden faced by millions of college graduates, although he faced legal challenges, including opposition from the Supreme Court.

As Biden’s Education Department attempts to finalize new rules for student loan forgiveness for up to 8 million borrowers, DeVos criticized the federal oversight of student lending as ineffective. “If taxpayers are funding student lending, there must be a mechanism to ensure it’s managed efficiently,” she remarked, suggesting that the private sector should have a role in providing lending options.

A Future Focused on Educational Reform

The discourse surrounding education policy is heating up as Trump prepares for a potential return to power and DeVos anticipates a possible role in shaping the future of American education. As the landscape evolves, the question remains: will DeVos return to her former post, or will others emerge as key figures in the Trump educational agenda?

Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.