Betsy DeVos

Background and early life

DeVos grew up and worked in Michigan; her maiden name is Prince. She has been active in civic causes, private philanthropy and electoral politics for many years. DeVos and her family have been major donors to a range of educational and political initiatives, and she has served on boards and advisory groups related to school reform and nonprofit work. Her approach emphasizes parental choice, local control and market-oriented options for education.

Political activity and nomination

In late 2016 it was announced that DeVos would be nominated to serve as Secretary of Education in the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Her nomination provoked intense public debate because supporters viewed her as a long-time advocate for expanding educational options, while critics pointed to her limited experience working in public schools and criticized some of her private-sector affiliations. The confirmation process was contentious and closely watched.

Confirmation and tenure

On February 7, 2017, DeVos was confirmed by the United States Senate in a tie vote decided when the Vice President cast the deciding ballot; Mike Pence broke the tie in her favor. As Education Secretary, DeVos pursued policies that rolled back several Obama-era regulations and guidance documents, favoring deregulation and state and local flexibility. Her department revised federal guidance on campus sexual misconduct procedures, altered enforcement priorities for civil rights complaints, and changed rules and oversight relating to for-profit colleges and borrower protections.

Policy priorities and controversies

• School choice and vouchers: She consistently supported initiatives that would allow public funds to follow students to charter, private or religious schools.
• Reducing federal oversight: Her tenure emphasized returning responsibility to states and trimming federal regulatory requirements.
• Civil rights enforcement: Critics accused her department of weakening protections for certain student groups; supporters argued for due process reforms and clearer standards.
• Higher education: Changes under her leadership affected how the department reviews claims that students were defrauded by institutions and how it oversees proprietary colleges.

Resignation and legacy

DeVos resigned from her cabinet post in January 2021 following the storming of the United States Capitol, saying the events and their fallout prompted her departure. Her time as Education Secretary remains controversial and widely debated: supporters credit her with advancing parental choice and deregulation, while opponents say her policies weakened federal protections and favored private interests. She continues to be an influential figure in education policy discussions and in philanthropic networks that advocate alternatives to traditional public schooling.