Auditor General DePasquale Urges U.S. Senate to Reject Education Secretary Nominee

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 17: Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be the next Secretary of Education, testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill January 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. DeVos is known for her advocacy of school […]

by: Chelsea Friedman

Posted: Feb 3, 2017 / 04:16 PM EST

Updated: Feb 3, 2017 / 04:16 PM EST

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale issued the following statement Friday, regarding the U.S. Senate’s confirmation proceedings on the appointment of Betsy DeVos as U.S. Department of Education Secretary:

“I vigorously object to the U.S. Senate’s action to cut off debate in the confirmation proceedings of Betsy DeVos, nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. This is a position that sets critical federal education policies and subsequently will steer the future of public education over the next four years. The position of U.S. Secretary of Education is far too critical to the future of this country to sharply end the important, bipartisan questioning.

“Such continued questioning is essential given DeVos’ proclivity to embrace charter schools over traditional public schools. Pennsylvania continues to struggle to find the balance between charter and traditional schools, and all schools pay the price. DeVos bankrolled the charter school expansion and reforms in Michigan, leading to disastrous results in education in her home state. Michigan is a tough competitor to Pennsylvania for having the worst charter school law in the nation.

“I am deeply concerned that DeVos will bring an unbalanced approach to the Department of Education. I applaud the bi-partisan skepticism expressed about the DeVos nomination, and encourage all senators to continue the questioning DeVos; to do otherwise would be irresponsible and foolish.

“I want to be perfectly clear that my concern about this nominee is not a wholesale rejection of the policies of the current Administration. I have grave and dire concerns on a multitude of critical areas, but with the new administration. However, earlier this week I voiced my support of the withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and today I express my support of the administration’s strong approach in dealing with Iran.

“That said, without additional vetting of this nominee to head the U.S. Department of Education, we risk dealing a potentially crushing blow to our current and future generations of Americans.

“I firmly believe we should make sure that the next U.S. Secretary of Education brings solid experience and a balanced, reasoned approach to public education.”