Donald Trump appoints Betsy DeVos as education secretary


Donald Trump has appointed Michigan GOP philanthropist Betsy DeVos as education secretary, The Detroit News reports. DeVos, 58, has long been an advocate of expanding charter schools and voucher programs, seeing eye-to-eye with Trump on his pledge to promote school choice.
"Betsy DeVos is a brilliant and passionate education advocate," Trump said in a statement. "Under her leadership, we will reform the U.S. education system and break the bureaucracy that is holding our children back so that we can deliver world-class education and school choice to all families." DeVos said she was honored to help "make American education great again."
DeVos comes from a family of GOP megadonors who were reserved in their contributions for much of Trump's campaign; her appointment is seen as a nod to establishment Republicans, Politico reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
DeVos supports Common Core curriculum standards, which have been heavily criticized by opponents, including Trump, who called the program a "total disaster" and vowed to get rid of it. Trump has additionally promised to make education "local" as well as to create a $20 billion block grant to expand charter and private school options for low-income students.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Gandhi arrests: Narendra Modi's 'vendetta' against India's opposition
The Explainer Another episode threatens to spark uproar in the Indian PM's long-running battle against the country's first family
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Harvard sues Trump over frozen grant money
Speed Read The Trump administration withheld $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts after Harvard rejected its demands
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Harvard loses $2.3B after rejecting Trump demands
speed read The university denied the Trump administration's request for oversight and internal policy changes
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
USC under fire for canceling valedictorian speech
Speed Read Citing safety concerns, the university canceled a pro-Palestinian student's speech
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Florida teachers can 'say gay' under settlement
speed read The state reached a settlement with challengers of the 2022 "Don't Say Gay" education law
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Biden administration to forgive $39B in student loan debt for 800K borrowers
Speed Read
By Theara Coleman
-
Advocacy groups challenge Harvard's legacy admissions policy
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia
-
2 Michigan school districts ban backpacks after confiscating 4th gun this year
Speed Read
By Theara Coleman
-
Education Department to limit bans on transgender student athletes but allow exceptions
Speed Read
By Peter Weber