Betsy DeVos, American businesswoman and politician, 11th Secretary of Education

Elisabeth Dee DeVos, widely known as Betsy DeVos (pronounced də-VOSS), born Elisabeth Prince on January 8, 1958, is a prominent American figure who has significantly influenced the intersection of politics, philanthropy, and education reform. Her most notable role was serving as the 11th United States Secretary of Education from February 7, 2017, until her resignation on January 8, 2021, a tenure that coincided with the administration of President Donald J. Trump.

Advocacy for Education Reform and Policy Positions

DeVos is a staunch advocate for educational reform, primarily recognized for her unwavering support of concepts such as school choice, school voucher programs, and the expansion of charter schools. These principles form the cornerstone of her vision for transforming American education, focusing on parental empowerment and diversified learning environments.

• School Choice: This umbrella term encapsulates policies that provide parents with options beyond their local traditional public schools, enabling them to choose the best educational setting for their children. Proponents argue it fosters competition among schools, leading to improved outcomes across the board.
• School Voucher Programs: A specific mechanism within school choice, these programs allow public funds designated for a student's education to be used at private or religious schools. DeVos champions vouchers as a means to empower families, particularly those in low-income areas, to access alternative educational opportunities that might otherwise be financially out of reach. These programs remain a subject of considerable debate regarding their impact on public school funding and resources.
• Charter Schools: These are publicly funded schools that operate independently, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods than traditional public schools. DeVos has actively supported their growth, viewing them as innovative models that can offer specialized learning environments and better cater to diverse student needs. Her advocacy notably extended to the Detroit charter school system.

Her commitment to these reforms is evident through her leadership and involvement with various organizations. She served as a former member of the board for the Foundation for Excellence in Education, an organization founded by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, dedicated to promoting education reform through policy development. Furthermore, DeVos chaired the board of the Alliance for School Choice, a leading national advocacy group promoting parental choice in education, which later merged to form the American Federation for Children. She also chaired the board of the Acton Institute, a Christian think tank focused on free-market principles, and headed the All Children Matter PAC, a political action committee dedicated to supporting candidates who champion school choice initiatives.

Early Political Career and Family Influence

Before her federal appointment, Elisabeth DeVos was deeply entrenched in Michigan state politics. She served as the Republican National Committeewoman for Michigan from 1992 to 1997, acting as a key representative of the state within the Republican National Committee. Her leadership capabilities led her to chair the Michigan Republican Party from 1996 to 2000, a role to which she was re-elected in 2003. These experiences provided her with extensive organizational and political fundraising acumen.

DeVos hails from a prominent and influential family with significant ties to American business and philanthropy.

• She is married to Richard "Dick" DeVos Jr., the former CEO of Amway, a global direct-selling giant, and a past Republican candidate for Governor of Michigan.
• Her brother, Erik Prince, is a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer and widely known as the founder of Blackwater USA, a controversial private military company that later rebranded as Academi.
• Her father was the late Edgar Prince, a billionaire industrialist who founded the Prince Corporation, an automotive parts supplier best known for developing the sun visor with a lighted vanity mirror, which was later sold to Johnson Controls.

The DeVos family's substantial wealth and philanthropic endeavors have long positioned them as significant political donors, particularly within the Republican Party. In 2016, Forbes magazine recognized the family among America's wealthiest, listing them as the 88th-richest with an estimated net worth of $5.4 billion, underscoring their extensive financial and political influence.

Secretary of Education Nomination and Historic Confirmation

On November 23, 2016, then-President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Elisabeth DeVos as his Secretary of Education. Her nomination ignited immediate and intense debate, drawing strong opposition from Democratic senators, teachers' unions, and public education advocates who raised concerns about her lack of experience in traditional public schools and her consistent advocacy for policies that they argued would divert funds from public education to private institutions.

The confirmation process was notably contentious:

• On January 31, 2017, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP Committee) advanced her nomination to the full Senate. This committee vote was conducted strictly along party lines, signaling the deep partisan divide surrounding her candidacy.
• The final Senate vote on February 7, 2017, proved to be one of the most closely contested Cabinet confirmations in U.S. history. The Senate deadlocked at 50–50, with all Democratic senators and two Republican senators (Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska) voting against her.
• In an unprecedented move, then-Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of her nomination. This marked the first time in U.S. history that a Cabinet nominee's confirmation was decided by the Vice President's tie-breaking vote, underscoring the extraordinary political battle her appointment represented.

Resignation Following the U.S. Capitol Attack

Elisabeth DeVos's tenure as Secretary of Education concluded prematurely. On January 7, 2021, she tendered her resignation, effective the following day, January 8, 2021, just twelve days before the scheduled end of President Trump's term. Her resignation came in direct response to the violent storming of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, by a mob of pro-Trump supporters. In her resignation letter addressed to President Trump, DeVos explicitly stated her profound concern regarding the events:

"There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me."

Her statement highlighted a clear indictment of the President's actions and words leading up to the insurrection, signaling a decisive break from the administration in its final days and adding to a wave of resignations from high-ranking officials following the attack.

Frequently Asked Questions About Elisabeth Dee DeVos

Who is Elisabeth Dee DeVos?

Elisabeth Dee DeVos, commonly known as Betsy DeVos, is an American politician, philanthropist, and former government official who served as the 11th United States Secretary of Education from 2017 to 2021 during the Trump administration.

What policies is Betsy DeVos known for supporting?

She is primarily known for her strong advocacy of school choice, school voucher programs, and charter schools, believing these initiatives empower parents and improve educational outcomes by fostering competition and offering diverse learning environments.

What was significant about her confirmation as Secretary of Education?

Her confirmation was historically significant because it was the first time in U.S. history that a Cabinet nominee's confirmation was decided by a Vice President's tie-breaking vote, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the deciding vote amidst strong opposition.

Why did Betsy DeVos resign from her position?

She resigned on January 7, 2021, in the immediate aftermath of the January 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol. In her resignation letter, she attributed her decision to the impact of President Trump's rhetoric on the situation, stating, "There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation."

What are some of Betsy DeVos's key affiliations before becoming Secretary of Education?

Prior to her federal role, she was active in Michigan politics, serving as the Republican National Committeewoman and Chair of the Michigan Republican Party. She also held leadership roles with organizations like the Foundation for Excellence in Education, the Alliance for School Choice, and the Acton Institute, all focused on education reform and conservative principles.