Betsy DeVos in Trump Cabinet members actions and issues
On Principles & Values:
Resigned following violent protest at U.S Capitol
Betsy DeVos submitted her letter of resignation one day after the riot. She called the mob's behavior "unconscionable" and said the president's rhetoric made an unmistakable impact on the situation. "We should be highlighting and celebrating your
Administration's many accomplishments on behalf of the American people," DeVos wrote. "Instead, we are left to clean up the mess caused by violent protestors overrunning the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to undermine the people's business."
Source: 19th News e-zine on Trump Cabinet
Jan 11, 2021
On Education:
Cut funding if transgender students to compete by gender
A high school sports policy in Connecticut that allows transgender students to participate in athletics based on their gender identity violates federal law and could cost the state federal education funding, the Education Department's Office for
Civil Rights has found. Transgender rights advocates denounced the finding, calling it another attempt by President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to trample civil rights for transgender youths.
Source: New York Times on 2020 Trump Cabinet
May 29, 2020
On Corporations:
Served as chairman of investment firm The Windquest Group
Prior to her confirmation, DeVos served as chairman of The Windquest Group, an enterprise and investment management firm. In addition to her leadership in the education arena, DeVos has also served on the boards of numerous national & local charitable
and civic organizations, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Kids Hope USA, ArtPrize, Mars Hill Bible Church and the Kendall College of Art and Design.She is married to entrepreneur, philanthropist and community activist Dick DeVos.
Source: ED.gov official website for Trump Cabinet biographies
Dec 31, 2018
On Education:
Mother was public school teacher; Betsy was in-school mentor
DeVos' interest in education was sparked at an early age by her mother, a public school teacher. It grew when she sent her own children to school and was confronted with the reality that not every child in America is granted an equal opportunity to
receive a great education. DeVos saw firsthand the work leaders in her hometown were doing to increase educational opportunities for students and choices for parents, and she has been involved in the fight to provide better educational options across
the nation ever since.For 15 years, DeVos served as an in-school mentor for at-risk children in the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Public Schools. Her interactions there with students, families and teachers, according to DeVos, "changed my life
and my perspective about education forever." A leader in the movement to empower parents, DeVos has worked to support the creation of new educational choices for students in 25 states and the District of Columbia.
Source: ED.gov official website for Trump Cabinet biographies
Dec 31, 2018
On Civil Rights:
Rescind "weaponized" use of sexual misconduct accusations
A draft of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos's proposed changes would narrow a school's responsibility to respond to sexual misconduct under Title IX, a federal civil-rights law that prohibits gender discrimination in publicly funded schools. The
proposals would also allow them to use a [stricter] standard of evidence and punish students for reports deemed false.DeVos, who rescinded Obama-era guidance last year, has said these changes would make the process more fair to accused students and
to schools. The leaked draft states that previous guidance lacked clarity about schools' responsibilities under Title IX, leading accused students to sue their schools and prompting survivors to file complaints to the Office of Civil Rights, which DeVos
has said was "weaponized" by the Obama administration.
In 2011, the Obama administration issued guidance expanding schools' responsibility under Title IX, and schools adopted procedures and designated employees to handle cases of sexual violence.
Source: Seattle Times' Asia Fields on 2018 Trump Cabinet
Sep 29, 2018
On Crime:
Require cross-examination of victims of sexual harassment
[Under newly-proposed guidelines on sexual harassment at colleges after rescinding the Obama guidelines], Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos allows schools to choose what standard of evidence they use. The Obama administration's Title IX guidance
mandated that colleges use the "preponderance of evidence" standard of proof to make determinations in investigations, which means they determine if there is sufficient evidence that sexual misconduct more likely than not occurred.
DeVos has allowed schools to use a higher "clear and convincing" standard, which is higher than the Obama standard but still lower than the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt. The proposed changes would make this option permanent.
The draft changes would also allow mediation if both parties consent and require cross-examination during hearings, which Obama-era guidance rejected as inappropriate.
Source: Seattle Times' Asia Fields on 2018 Trump Cabinet
Sep 29, 2018
On Education:
Use federal funds for private schools for military kids
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos called for allowing military families to use federal funds to pay for private school or other educational services for their children. DeVos said that many
active-duty military families living in bases were dissatisfied with their neighborhood schools and that was affecting their career decisions.
Source: Military Times , "Military children," on Trump Cabinet
Feb 22, 2018
On Education:
Contributes to education to advance "God's Kingdom"
In a 2001 interview for The Gathering, a group focused on advancing Christian faith through philanthropy, DeVos offered a glimpse of their views. Asked whether Christian schools should continue to rely on giving--rather than pushing for taxpayer
money through vouchers--Betsy DeVos replied, "There are not enough philanthropic dollars in America to fund what is currently the need in education.Our desire is to confront the culture in ways that will continue to advance God's kingdom."
Source: Mother Jones, "God's Kingdom", on Trump Cabinet
Apr 1, 2017
On Tax Reform:
DeVos record includes advocating for tax cuts for the rich
In Michigan, DeVos fought for tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of public schools, for vouchers that divert taxpayer funds from public schools to private schools, and to
allow for-profit charter school corporations to operate with no accountability while being funded by taxpayers.
Source: NEA Today (National Education Association) on Trump Cabinet
Jan 11, 2017
Page last updated: Dec 03, 2021