Watch the deeply uncomfortable dressing-down House Democrats gave Betsy DeVos
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testified on her department's budget before the House Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday, on the heels of her disastrous appearance on 60 Minutes last week. The hearing did not go much better: DeVos found herself facing a hostile crowd of Democrats, who expressed open frustration with her lack of answers. Watch some of the most uncomfortable moments below. Jeva Lange
Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.): Is there some problem? Yes or no. Will you guarantee—
DeVos: I think I've been clear—
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.
Clark: Then say yes or no!
DeVos: Yes!
Clark: Okay, great. Thank you. Wow, it took a year.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.): Madam Secretary, you just don't care much about the civil rights of black and brown children. This is horrible.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.): What's the best way to prevent another young person from taking lives at the hands of a gun?
DeVos: I think there are a number of ways to address this, the president has been very clear in his focus.
DeLauro: What are they?
DeVos: There are ways to prevent young people from getting guns, who should not be having guns, from having them.
Clark: What about after-school programs? You also eliminated the 21st Century Community Centers, that's 80,000 kids in Florida alone.
DeVos: … There's no data to show [after-school programs] are effective in what the stated goal has been —
Clark: What do you mean there is no data? There is study after study after study.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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.
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Winchcombe meteorite: space rock may reveal how water came to Earth
The Explainer New analysis of its violent journey confirms scientific theories on the origin of our planet's H2O
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Liz Truss to save the West: is a political comeback really on the cards?
Talking Point The former prime minister is back with a new tell-all memoir
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How will Israel respond to Iran's direct attack?
Speed Read Iran’s weekend attack on Israel could escalate into a wider Middle East war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress honors real-life Rosie the Riveters
Speed Read These American women reshaped the work force during World War II
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Outgunned Ukraine could fall, US general warns
Speed Read Without more US aid, Ukraine is at risk of losing the war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
House GOP scuttles FISA vote at Trump's urging
Speed Read Right-wing lawmakers blocked Speaker Mike Johnson's surveillance bill
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published