Who Could Be Donald Trump’s Next Education Secretary?
Alyson Klein
October 15, 2024
If former President Donald Trump wins the White House, educators will again ask a question they pondered eight years ago: Who could a president who wants to scrap the U.S. Department of Education pick to lead it?
Despite the lack of talk about K-12 policy from either candidate this election cycle, the broad policy strokes of a potential second Trump administration seem fairly apparent.
Trump’s secretary will likely support slimming down if not dismantling the Education Department; expanding school choice; slashing K-12 spending; and attacking school districts’ diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Plenty of GOP lawmakers, state education chiefs, and advocates could get on board with that agenda.
But a future secretary’s ability to communicate and champion Trump’s education policies may help determine their success.
