Under Secretary Kent: Restoring American Greatness in Postsecondary Education
August 4, 2025
Late on Friday, I was greatly honored that the U.S. Senate confirmed me as 15th Under Secretary of Education. As a first-generation college student who received a Pell Grant from this very Department, it is now my privilege to lead this talented team in ensuring that each rung in the ladder of postsecondary success is in reach of every American citizen. President Trump has entrusted me with a weighty task: to restore the greatness of American higher education and ensure that our taxpayer-supported colleges, universities, vocational schools, and other postsecondary programs are genuinely helping young Americans launch and grow their careers.
The American people have great expectations for the Trump Administration in our approach to higher education. In 2024, only 31% of American adults said the industry is headed in the right direction, according to Gallup. A Knight Foundation-Ipsos study found that only 8% of college students felt their free speech rights were “very secure.” And a study from the Burning Glass Institute showed that less than half of American college graduates were now working in a job that requires a college degree.
