Trump Appointee: Betsy DeVos Edu Secy the Most-Unqualified Ever in that Position

Unqualified, Out of Touch, Clueless, Over Her Head, Lost

(Education Secretary Betsy DeVos)

Tap dancing and backpedaling by Education Secretary DeVos – two part story:

First Part of the Story: On Tuesday (July 6), DeVos told Fox News’ Tucker Carlson that she was “very seriously looking at withholding federal funds from schools that don’t physically reopen this fall.” 

That followed Trump’s threats to cut federal funding and to push the CDC  to change its guidelines in his tweet that he called their guidelines: “...very tough, impractical and expensive.” 

Then DeVos when asked on Thursday (July 9) whether she still backs the president’s proposal to pull federal funding, DeVos told Fox News’ Sandra Smith: “American investment in education is a promise to our students and families and if schools aren’t going to reopen we’re not suggesting pulling funding from education, but instead allowing families to take that money and figure out where their kids can get educated if their schools are going to refuse to open.”

Politico notes that DeVos’s language might indicate the administration’s intention to use school vouchers — a controversial proposal long opposed by Democrats in Congress (and most Americans I might add).

Second Part of the Story: Then on Sunday (July 12) appearing on CNN’s show “State of the Union” with Dana Bash, DeVos repeatedly called for schools to open this fall with full-time, in-person learning, but had few specifics on how that could happen safely, and gave no definitive answer on whether federal funds could be withheld for schools, even though the executive branch lacks the authority to divert the money.

Bash pressed DeVos on what the Education Department was doing to help schools reopen, especially since the CDC said children meeting in groups can increase the risk of spreading coronavirus.

DeVos said: “We’re saying kids need to be back in school and school leaders across the country need to be making plans, since the CDC never recommended that schools close down in response to the pandemic.”

DeVos would not say whether schools should follow the CDC’s guidance including spacing desks six feet apart and installing plexiglass barriers, among other measures which could be impossible for some schools to achieve due to space or financial constraints.

DeVos stressed that each state and school district needs to have their own plans for handling virus flare ups, but she would not answer whether schools should follow the CDC’s guidance.

Bash also asked whether federal funds could be withheld from schools that fail to reopen for in-person learning, the suggestion DeVos faced backlash for earlier this week, forcing her to walk back the threat (see part one above that sad display by her).

My 2 cents: What a pitiful and sad-sack woman now serving as the nation’s top “educator” so to speak. 

She is truly pathetic and keep in mind that when she had her Senate confirmation hearing and approval in February 2017, it was by a tie vote (50-50) when two Republicans joined all 50 DEMS who found her unqualified – that tie had to be broken by VP Mike Pence, which was historical.

She continues to prove hands down that she is the worse Education Secretary ever in American history. 

But, she and her hubby did give the GOP some $20 million over the years. Wow…!!! That counts for something, I guess? (smile)

And, on top of that, she does not have one single day of public education – not one. Unqualified is an understatement.

Thanks for stopping by.