Betsy DeVos has remained a contentious figure since her appointment as Secretary of Education. A wealthy Republican benefactor and proponent of school choice, DeVos lacks direct experience in teaching or public schooling, and she is related to the founder of the controversial private security firm Blackwater. Her confirmation hearings were marked by gaffes, including her suggestion that firearms might be necessary for protecting schoolchildren from grizzly bears.
DeVos has described education reform as a means to further “God’s kingdom” and likened the choice of schools to selecting between ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. She has referred to historically black colleges and universities as “real pioneers” of school choice, despite their inception during an era of racial segregation that barred students of color from attending predominantly white institutions. However, her statements have not translated into clear actions, leaving many uncertain about her agenda as Secretary of Education.
Signs of her policy direction are now emerging, and they raise significant concerns. DeVos has implemented changes that complicate student loan repayment for borrowers, effectively dismantling protections established during the Obama administration. These protections were aimed at shielding borrowers from predatory lending practices and poor service from loan companies. Recently, she reversed an Obama-era safeguard that prevented lenders from imposing collection fees on borrowers seeking to exit default. Furthermore, DeVos has abandoned plans for a streamlined student loan repayment system, which would have simplified the process for borrowers dealing with multiple lenders.
Her proposed budget cuts to education are equally alarming, with a planned 13% reduction amounting to approximately $9 billion. These cuts will heavily impact summer and after-school programs for at-risk youth, including the 21st Century Community Learning Centers that serve 1.6 million children. Prominent initiatives launched under the Obama administration to enhance school integration and support first-generation college students will also face significant funding reductions. In stark contrast, $1.4 billion will be redirected towards voucher and school choice initiatives.
Critics, including former education officials, have condemned DeVos’s budget priorities as detrimental to the American Dream, disproportionately affecting low-income and minority students. Additionally, her personal security arrangements, which involve U.S. marshals at a taxpayer cost of around $1 million monthly, raise eyebrows, as federal marshals have not historically provided security for education secretaries.
In civil rights matters, DeVos’s appointment of Candice Jackson to head the Office of Civil Rights raises further concerns. Jackson, known for her opposition to affirmative action and feminism, has previously downplayed issues of discrimination. She has also refrained from committing to the enforcement of Title IX, particularly regarding sexual assault on college campuses, prompting critiques from figures like former Vice President Joe Biden, who highlighted the potential repercussions of weakening Title IX protections.
Amid the chaotic backdrop of the current administration, it is crucial not to overlook the significant shifts DeVos is proposing for our educational landscape. Her vision for schools may not align with the needs of our most vulnerable populations.