Examine individual changes

'@@ -33,18 +33,18 @@ DeVos is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] known for her support for [[school choice]], [[school voucher]] programs, and [[charter school]]s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/02/07/5-faith-facts-betsy-devos/97601374/ |title=Betsy DeVos: 5 faith facts to know about the Education secretary|last=Miller|first=Emily McFarlan|date=February 7, 2017|work=[[USA Today]]|language=English|accessdate=February 11, 2017|quote=DeVos grew up in the Christian Reformed Church and graduated from schools affiliated with the tradition: Holland Christian Schools in Holland, Mich., and Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.}}</ref><ref name=PulliamBailey>{{cite news|author=Pulliam Bailey, Sarah |date=November 23, 2016|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/11/23/betsy-devos-trumps-education-pick-is-a-billionaire-philanthropist-with-deep-ties-to-the-reformed-christian-community/ |title=Betsy DeVos, Trump's education pick, is a billionaire with deep ties to the Christian Reformed community|work=The Washington Post|accessdate= November 24, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Politico_120216"/><ref name=Steward16>{{cite news|author=Stewart, Katherine |date=December 13, 2016 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/13/opinion/betsy-devos-and-gods-plan-for-schools.html?_r=0 |title= Betsy DeVos and God's Plan for Schools |work= The New York Times |accessdate= December 14, 2016}}</ref> She was [[Republican National Committee]]woman for Michigan from 1992 to 1997 and served as chair of the [[Michigan Republican Party]] from 1996 to 2000, with reelection to the post in 2003. She has advocated for the Detroit charter school system<ref name="natreview_112816">{{cite news |last1= Ponnuru |first1=Ramesh |title= DeVos and Detroit's Charter Schools |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/442522/devos-and-detroits-charter-schools |work= National Review |accessdate= January 18, 2017 |date= November 28, 2016}}</ref><ref name="nytimes_062816">{{cite news |last1= Zernike |first1=Kate |title= A Sea of Charter Schools in Detroit Leaves Students Adrift |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/29/us/for-detroits-children-more-school-choice-but-not-better-schools.html |work= The New York Times |accessdate= January 18, 2017 |date= June 28, 2016}}</ref> and she is a member of the board of the [[Foundation for Excellence in Education]]. She has served as chair of the board of the [[Alliance for School Choice]] and the [[Acton Institute]] and headed the All Children Matter<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/betsy-devos-all-children-matter-election-fines-231954|title=Trump's education secretary pick led group that owes millions in election fines|work=POLITICO|access-date=January 23, 2018}}</ref> [[political action committee|PAC]], which has received wide criticism for allegedly meddling in elections at the state level. -DeVos is married to [[Dick DeVos]], the former CEO of the [[multi-level marketing]] company [[Amway]], and is the daughter-in-law of Amway's billionaire co-founder, [[Richard DeVos]].<ref>{{cite news|author= Peterson-Withorn, Chase |date=November 23, 2016 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2016/11/23/trump-picks-betsy-devos-daughter-in-law-of-billionaire-amway-cofounder-for-education-secretary/#1e1f29875313 |title=Trump Picks Betsy DeVos, Daughter-in-Law of Billionaire Amway Cofounder, for Education Secretary|work=Forbes|accessdate= December 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= How Betsy DeVos Could Fix America's Broken Education System |date= January 22, 2017 |url=http://newhampshirereview.com/education/how-bestsy-devos-fix-education-system/ |work= The New Hampshire Review |accessdate= January 25, 2017 }}</ref> Her brother, [[Erik Prince]], a former [[United States Navy SEALs|U.S. Navy SEAL]] officer, is the founder of [[Academi|Blackwater USA]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Scahill |first=Jeremy |title= Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Arm |publisher= Nation Books |year=2008 |asin= B0097CYTYA}}{{cite book |last=Prince |first=Erik|title=Civilian Warriors: The Inside Story of Blackwater and the Unsung Heroes of the War on Terror |publisher= Portfolio |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-59184-745-8}}</ref> Their father is [[Edgar Prince]], founder of the Prince Corporation.<ref name="Edgar D. Prince">"{{cite web |url=http://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/history-and-heritage/dutch_americans/edgar-d-prince/ |title=Edgar D. Prince|website=[[New Netherland Institute]]}}</ref><ref>Benjamin Wermund and Kimberly Hefling (November 25, 2016). "[http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/betsy-devos-education-secretary-civil-rights-gay-transgender-students-231837 Trump's education secretary pick supported anti-gay causes]". ''[[Politico]]''. Retrieved December 14, 2016.</ref> In 2016, the family was listed by ''[[Forbes]]'' as the 88th richest in America, with an estimated net worth of $5.4&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-devos/?list=forbes-400 |title= 2016 Forbes 400 |work=Forbes |access-date= April 13, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> +DeVos is married to [[Dick DeVos]], the former CEO of the [[multi-level marketing]] company [[Amway]], and is the daughter-in-law of Amway's billionaire co-founder, [[Richard DeVos]].<ref>{{cite news|author= Peterson-Withorn, Chase |date=November 23, 2016 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2016/11/23/trump-picks-betsy-devos-daughter-in-law-of-billionaire-amway-cofounder-for-education-secretary/#1e1f29875313 |title=Trump Picks Betsy DeVos, Daughter-in-Law of Billionaire Amway Cofounder, for Education Secretary|work=Forbes|accessdate= December 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= How Betsy DeVos Could Fix America's Broken Education System |date= January 22, 2017 |url=http://newhampshirereview.com/education/how-bestsy-devos-fix-education-system/ |work= The New Hampshire Review |accessdate= January 25, 2017 }}</ref> Her brother, [[Erik Prince]], a former [[United States Navy SEALs|U.S. Navy SEAL]] officer, is the founder of [[Academi|Blackwater USA]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Scahill |first=Jeremy |title= Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Arm |publisher= Nation Books |year=2008 |asin= B0097CYTYA}}{{cite book |last=Prince |first=Erik|title=Civilian Warriors: The Inside Story of Blackwater and the Unsung Heroes of the War on Terror |publisher= Portfolio |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-59184-745-8}}</ref> Their father is [[Edgar Prince]], founder of the Prince Corporation.<ref name="Edgar D. Prince">"{{cite web |url=http://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/history-and-heritage/dutch_americans/edgar-d-prince/ |title=Edgar D. Prince|website=[[New Netherland Institute]]}}</ref><ref>Benjamin Wermund and Kimberly Hefling (November 25, 2016). "[http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/betsy-devos-education-secretary-civil-rights-gay-transgender-students-231837 Trump's education secretary pick supported anti-gay causes]". ''[[Politico]]''. Retrieved December 14, 2016.</ref> In 2016, the family was listed by ''[[Forbes]]'' as the 88th-richest in America, with an estimated net worth of $5.4&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-devos/?list=forbes-400 |title= 2016 Forbes 400 |work=Forbes |access-date= April 13, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> On November 23, 2016, then-[[President-elect of the United States|President-elect]] [[Donald Trump]] announced that he would nominate DeVos to serve as [[United States Secretary of Education|Secretary of Education]] in his [[Cabinet of Donald Trump|administration]], after his initial pick, [[Jerry Falwell Jr.]], rejected the offer.<ref name="Brown">{{cite web |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/trump-picks-billionaire-betsy-devos-school-voucher-advocate-as-education-secretary/2016/11/23/c3d66b94-af96-11e6-840f-e3ebab6bcdd3_story.html |title= Trump picks billionaire Betsy DeVos, school voucher advocate, as education secretary |last= Brown |first=Emma |date= November 23, 2016 |work= [[The Washington Post]] |accessdate= December 2, 2016}}</ref> On January 31, following strong opposition to the nomination from Democrats, the [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions|Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions]] approved her nomination on a party-line vote, sending her nomination to the Senate floor.<ref name="hill-committee-approves"/> On February 7, 2017, she was confirmed by the Senate by a 51–50 margin, with [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Mike Pence]] breaking the tie in favor of her nomination. This was the first time in U.S. history that a Cabinet nominee's confirmation was decided by the Vice President's tiebreaking vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/07/us/politics/betsy-devos-education-secretary-confirmed.html?action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=64887255&pgtype=Homepage |title= Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary; Pence Breaks Tie |last= Hutterman |first=Emmarie |date= February 7, 2017 |access-date= February 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Elving |first=Ron |date= February 7, 2017 |title= Pence Becomes First VP to Break Senate Tie over Cabinet Nomination |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170207181344/http://www.npr.org/2017/02/07/513836576/pence-becomes-first-vp-to-break-senate-tie-over-cabinet-nomination |archive-date=February 7, 2017 |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/02/07/513836576/pence-becomes-first-vp-to-break-senate-tie-over-cabinet-nomination |newspaper= NPR |location= Washington, D.C. |access-date= February 7, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Huetteman |first=Emmarie |date= February 7, 2017 |title= Mike Pence's Vote on a Cabinet Nominee Would Be Historic |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/07/us/politics/mike-pence-tie-break-betsy-devos.html |newspaper= The New York Times |location=New York |access-date= February 7, 2017 }}</ref> == Early life== -DeVos was born Elisabeth Prince on January 8, 1958. She grew up in [[Holland, Michigan]], the daughter of Elsa (Zwiep) Prince (later, Broekhuizen) and [[Edgar Prince]], a billionaire [[industrialist]].<ref name="blackwater" /><ref name="amway heir" /> Both of her parents are of [[Dutch people|Dutch]] ancestry, and her family's original surname was "Prins".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/history-and-heritage/dutch_americans/edgar-d-prince/ |title= Edgar D. Prince |website=www.newnetherlandinstitute.org|language=en|access-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref> Edgar was the founder of Prince Corporation, an automobile parts supplier based in Holland, Michigan.<ref name="Edgar D. Prince" /><ref name="blackwater" /> +DeVos was born Elisabeth Prince on January 8, 1958. She grew up in [[Holland, Michigan]], the daughter of Elsa (Zwiep) Prince (later, Broekhuizen) and [[Edgar Prince]], a billionaire [[Business magnate|industrialist]].<ref name="blackwater" /><ref name="amway heir" /> Both of her parents are of [[Dutch people|Dutch]] ancestry, and her family's original surname was "Prins".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/history-and-heritage/dutch_americans/edgar-d-prince/ |title= Edgar D. Prince |website=www.newnetherlandinstitute.org|language=en|access-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref> Edgar was the founder of Prince Corporation, an automobile parts supplier based in Holland, Michigan.<ref name="Edgar D. Prince" /><ref name="blackwater" /> DeVos was educated at the [[Holland Christian Schools|Holland Christian High School]], a private school located in her home town of Holland, Michigan.<ref name=newyorker>{{cite news |last1=Mead |first1=Rebecca |title= Betsy DeVos and the Plan to Break Public Schools |url= http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/betsy-devos-and-the-plan-to-break-public-schools |accessdate= January 5, 2017 |work= The New Yorker |date= December 14, 2016}}</ref> She graduated from [[Calvin College]] in [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]], where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business economics in 1979.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Toppo|first1=Greg|title=What you need to know about Betsy DeVos|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/02/07/facts-about-education-secretary-betsy-devos/97605238/|accessdate=July 27, 2017|publisher=USA Today|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> During college, DeVos was "involved with campus politics," according to ''[[Philanthropy (magazine)|Philanthropy]]'' magazine.<ref name="Philanthropy">{{cite journal |date= 2013 |title= Interview with Betsy DeVos, the Reformer |url=http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/topic/excellence_in_philanthropy/interview_with_betsy_devos|format=print and online |journal=[[Philanthropy (magazine)|Philanthropy]] |location= Washington, D.C. |publisher=[[Philanthropy Roundtable]] |issue= Spring |access-date= July 8, 2013 |author= Philanthropy Staff}}</ref> -DeVos grew up as a member of the [[Christian Reformed Church in North America]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Boston |first=Rob |title=Michigan Multi-Millionaire Betsy DeVos Is A Four-Star General in a Deceptive Behind-The-Scenes War on Public Schools And Church-State Separation |url=https://au.org/church-state/september-2010-church-state/featured/sneak-attack |journal=Church & State |date=September 2010}}</ref> She has been a member and [[elder (Christianity)|elder]] of [[Mars Hill Bible Church]] in Grand Rapids.<ref name="NewYorker2">{{cite web|last1=Sanneh|first1=Kalefa|title=The Hell-Raiser |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/11/26/the-hell-raiser-3|website=The New Yorker|accessdate=January 10, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Haaretz1">{{cite web|last1=Kaplan Sommer|first1=Allison|title=Onward Christian Cabinet: Trump's White House Picks Are a Christmas Gift for the Religious Right|url=http://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-1.758733|website=Haaretz|accessdate=January 10, 2017}}</ref> Former [[Fuller Seminary]] president [[Richard Mouw]], with whom DeVos served on a committee, said she is influenced by [[Dutch people|Dutch]] [[neo-Calvinist]] theologian [[Abraham Kuyper]], a founding figure in [[Christian Democracy]] political ideology.<ref name=PulliamBailey /> +DeVos grew up as a member of the [[Christian Reformed Church in North America]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Boston |first=Rob |title=Michigan Multi-Millionaire Betsy DeVos Is A Four-Star General in a Deceptive Behind-The-Scenes War on Public Schools And Church-State Separation |url=https://au.org/church-state/september-2010-church-state/featured/sneak-attack |journal=Church & State |date=September 2010}}</ref> She has been a member and [[elder (Christianity)|elder]] of [[Mars Hill Bible Church]] in Grand Rapids.<ref name="NewYorker2">{{cite web|last1=Sanneh|first1=Kalefa|title=The Hell-Raiser |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/11/26/the-hell-raiser-3|website=The New Yorker|accessdate=January 10, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Haaretz1">{{cite web|last1=Kaplan Sommer|first1=Allison|title=Onward Christian Cabinet: Trump's White House Picks Are a Christmas Gift for the Religious Right|url=http://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-1.758733|website=Haaretz|accessdate=January 10, 2017}}</ref> Former [[Fuller Seminary]] president [[Richard Mouw]], with whom DeVos served on a committee, said she is influenced by [[Dutch people|Dutch]] [[Neo-Calvinism|neo-Calvinist]] theologian [[Abraham Kuyper]], a founding figure in [[Christian Democracy]] political ideology.<ref name=PulliamBailey /> == Political activity == [[File:Laura Bush makes a purchase at Franklin Cider Mill in Franklin, Mich., 2006 (cropped1).jpg|thumb|left|DeVos (far left) watches First Lady [[Laura Bush]] (far right) making a purchase at [[Franklin Cider Mill]]. Bush was in Michigan to support DeVos's husband in his gubernatorial campaign.]] -Since 1982, DeVos has participated in the [[Michigan Republican Party]]. She served as a local precinct delegate for the Michigan Republican Party, having been elected for 16 consecutive two-year terms since 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000159-765a-d6be-a5db-feffd8500000|title=U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Statement for Completion by Executive Branch Nominees|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref> She was a Republican National Committeewoman for Michigan between 1992 and 1997,<ref>Gordon, Neil. [http://projects.publicintegrity.org/partylines/report.aspx?aid=692 "Profiles: Organizational Donor: Elizabeth DeVos"]. ''PublicIntegrity.org'', The Center For Public Integrity. May 26, 2005</ref> and served as chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party from 1996 to 2000.<ref name="affirmative" /><ref name="voters" /> In 2004, the ''Lansing State Journal'' described DeVos as "a political pit bull for most of [[Jennifer Granholm|[Gov. Jennifer] Granholm's]] 16 months in office," and said that if DeVos was not Granholm's "worst nightmare," she was "certainly her most persistent". [[Bill Ballenger]], editor of the newsletter ''Inside Michigan Politics'' and a former Republican state senator, called DeVos "a good behind-the-scenes organizer and a good fund raiser" as well as "a true believer in core Republican issues that leave nobody in doubt on where she stands".<ref name="Charge">{{cite news |last=Andrews |first=Chris |title=Leading the Charge |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |date=April 24, 2004| page=1A}}</ref> DeVos resigned the position in 2000. She said in 2000, "It is clear I have never been a rubber stamp... I have been a fighter for the grassroots, and following is admittedly not my strong suit."<ref name="Fresh" /> In 2003, DeVos ran again for party chairman and was elected to the post without opposition.<ref name="Fresh">{{cite journal|last=Medema |first=Kate |title=DeVos starts fresh, familiar position |journal=Chimes |publisher=Calvin College |location=Grand Rapids, Michigan |url=http://clubs.calvin.edu/chimes/2003-02-07/community1.html |accessdate=July 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040507141054/http://clubs.calvin.edu/chimes/2003-02-07/community1.html|archive-date=May 7, 2004 |date=February 7, 2003|volume=97|issue=16}}</ref> +Since 1982, DeVos has participated in the [[Michigan Republican Party]]. She served as a local precinct delegate for the Michigan Republican Party, having been elected for 16 consecutive two-year terms since 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000159-765a-d6be-a5db-feffd8500000|title=U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Statement for Completion by Executive Branch Nominees|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref> She was a Republican National Committeewoman for Michigan between 1992 and 1997,<ref>Gordon, Neil. [http://projects.publicintegrity.org/partylines/report.aspx?aid=692 "Profiles: Organizational Donor: Elizabeth DeVos"]. ''PublicIntegrity.org'', The Center For Public Integrity. May 26, 2005</ref> and served as chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party from 1996 to 2000.<ref name="affirmative" /><ref name="voters" /> In 2004, the ''Lansing State Journal'' described DeVos as "a political pit bull for most of [[Jennifer Grandholm|[Gov. Jennifer] Granholm]]'s 16 months in office," and said that if DeVos was not Granholm's "worst nightmare," she was "certainly her most persistent". [[Bill Ballenger]], editor of the newsletter ''Inside Michigan Politics'' and a former Republican state senator, called DeVos "a good behind-the-scenes organizer and a good fund raiser" as well as "a true believer in core Republican issues that leave nobody in doubt on where she stands".<ref name="Charge">{{cite news |last=Andrews |first=Chris |title=Leading the Charge |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |date=April 24, 2004| page=1A}}</ref> DeVos resigned the position in 2000. She said in 2000, "It is clear I have never been a rubber stamp ... I have been a fighter for the grassroots, and following is admittedly not my strong suit."<ref name="Fresh" /> In 2003, DeVos ran again for party chairman and was elected to the post without opposition.<ref name="Fresh">{{cite journal|last=Medema |first=Kate |title=DeVos starts fresh, familiar position |journal=Chimes |publisher=Calvin College |location=Grand Rapids, Michigan |url=http://clubs.calvin.edu/chimes/2003-02-07/community1.html |accessdate=July 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040507141054/http://clubs.calvin.edu/chimes/2003-02-07/community1.html|archive-date=May 7, 2004 |date=February 7, 2003|volume=97|issue=16}}</ref> ===Political fundraising=== @@ -52,5 +52,5 @@ DeVos personally raised more than $150,000 for the 2004 Bush re-election campaign,<ref name="urges bush" /> and hosted a Republican fundraiser at her home in October 2008 that was headlined by President [[George W. Bush]].<ref name="bush attends" /> During the Bush Administration she spent two years as the finance chairperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and worked closely with the Administration on "various projects".<ref name="Gathering">{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Standing for Change |work=TheGathering.com |publisher=The Gathering |location=Tyler, Texas |url=http://thegathering.com/articles.php?ac=post&id=553&p=1 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130730000312/http://thegathering.com/articles.php?ac=post&id=553&p=1 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=July 30, 2013 |accessdate=July 9, 2013}}</ref> The DeVos family has been active in Republican politics for decades, particularly as donors to candidates and the party, giving more than $17&nbsp;million to political candidates and committees since 1989.<ref name="MLive">Mark Tower (December 17, 2016), [http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2016/12/devos_family_political_giving.html DeVos family political giving nears $10 million prior to 2016 election], MLive Media Group, Retrieved January 4, 2017.</ref><ref name="SmithGuardian">David Smith (November 23, 2016), [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/23/betsy-devos-education-secretary-trump-administration Betsy DeVos, billionaire philanthropist, picked as Trump education secretary], [[The Guardian]], retrieved January 4, 2017.</ref> -''[[The Atlantic]]'' noted that DeVos had indicated in a 1997 op-ed that she expects results from her political contributions. "My family is the largest single contributor of soft money to the national Republican Party. I have decided to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence," she wrote. "Now I simply concede the point. They are right."<ref name="Atlantic1">{{cite news|last1=Deruy|first1=Emily|title=What Betsy DeVos Did (and Didn't) Reveal About Her Education Priorities |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/01/betsy-devoss-policy-evasion/513440/|accessdate=January 28, 2017|publisher=[[The Atlantic]]|date=January 17, 2017}}</ref> She also stated in the op-ed, "We expect to foster a conservative governing philosophy consisting of limited government and respect for traditional American virtues…We expect a return on our investment; we expect a good and honest government. Furthermore, we expect the Republican Party to use the money to promote these policies and, yes, to win elections."<ref name="ABC1">{{cite news|last1=Cathcart|first1=Corrine|title=Betsy DeVos: Everything You Need to Know |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/betsy-devos/story?id=43745520|accessdate=January 28, 2017|publisher=[[ABC News]]|date=November 23, 2016}}</ref> +''[[The Atlantic]]'' noted that DeVos had indicated in a 1997 op-ed that she expects results from her political contributions. "My family is the largest single contributor of soft money to the national Republican Party. I have decided to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence," she wrote. "Now I simply concede the point. They are right."<ref name="Atlantic1">{{cite news|last1=Deruy|first1=Emily|title=What Betsy DeVos Did (and Didn't) Reveal About Her Education Priorities |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/01/betsy-devoss-policy-evasion/513440/|accessdate=January 28, 2017|publisher=[[The Atlantic]]|date=January 17, 2017}}</ref> She also stated in the op-ed, "We expect to foster a conservative governing philosophy consisting of limited government and respect for traditional American virtues … We expect a return on our investment; we expect a good and honest government. Furthermore, we expect the Republican Party to use the money to promote these policies and, yes, to win elections."<ref name="ABC1">{{cite news|last1=Cathcart|first1=Corrine|title=Betsy DeVos: Everything You Need to Know |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/betsy-devos/story?id=43745520|accessdate=January 28, 2017|publisher=[[ABC News]]|date=November 23, 2016}}</ref> === 2016 U.S. presidential election === @@ -58,5 +58,5 @@ == Business career == -DeVos is chairwoman of the [[Dick DeVos#The Windquest Group|Windquest Group]], a privately held operating group that invests in technology, manufacturing, and [[clean energy]]. DeVos and her husband founded it in 1989.<ref name="Philanthropy" /> With a commitment of $100m, Betsy DeVos was one of the largest investors - and losers - in blood-testing company Theranos.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/05/betsy-devos-lost-more-on-theranos-than-the-average-american-will-make-in-100-lifetimes |title= Betsy DeVos Lost More on Theranos than the Average American Will Make in 100 Lifetimes |website=Vanity Fair|access-date= September 2, 2018}}</ref> +DeVos is chairwoman of the [[Dick DeVos#The Windquest Group|Windquest Group]], a privately held operating group that invests in technology, manufacturing, and [[Sustainable energy|clean energy]]. DeVos and her husband founded it in 1989.<ref name="Philanthropy" /> With a commitment of $100 million, Betsy DeVos was one of the largest investors—and losers—in blood-testing company Theranos.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/05/betsy-devos-lost-more-on-theranos-than-the-average-american-will-make-in-100-lifetimes |title= Betsy DeVos Lost More on Theranos than the Average American Will Make in 100 Lifetimes |website=Vanity Fair|access-date= September 2, 2018}}</ref> DeVos and her husband were producers for a [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] run of the stage play ''[[Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson]]'', in 2012, based on the life of [[Aimee Semple McPherson|the famous evangelist]] and featuring a book and lyrics written by [[Kathie Lee Gifford]]. The show ran for three weeks, closing in December 2012<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/production/scandalous-the-life-and-trials-of-aimee-semple-mcpherson-neil-simon-theatre-vault-0000013969 |title= Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimée Semple McPherson Broadway @ Neil Simon Theatre – Tickets and Discounts |website=Playbill|access-date= January 4, 2017}}</ref> after receiving negative reviews.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2012/legit/reviews/scandalous-1117948755/|title=Review: 'Scandalous'|last=Suskin|first=Steven|date=November 16, 2012 |newspaper=Variety|access-date=February 8, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/theater/reviews/scandalous-the-life-and-trials-of-aimee-semple-mcpherson.html |title='Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson'|last=Isherwood|first=Charles|date=November 15, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=February 8, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> @@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ Jerry Falwell Jr., president of [[Liberty University]], said he was Trump's initial pick, but he rejected the offer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-falwell/evangelical-jerry-falwell-jr-to-head-trump-education-task-force-idUSKBN15G5F4|title=Evangelical Jerry Falwell Jr. to head Trump education task force|date=February 2, 2017|publisher=|via=Reuters}}</ref> On November 23, 2016, Trump's transition team announced DeVos as the nominee to be the next [[United States Secretary of Education|Secretary of Education]]. Upon her nomination, DeVos said "I am honored to work with the President-elect on his vision to make American education great again. The ''status quo'' in ed is not acceptable."<ref name=Brown /> DeVos's nomination was generally criticized by teachers unions and praised by supporters of [[school choice]].<ref name=insider/> -''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' editor Stephen Henderson expressed concerns over DeVos's nomination, writing that "DeVos isn't an educator, or an education leader".<ref name="BBC_020517">{{cite news|title=Why is Betsy DeVos, Trump's pick for education secretary, so unpopular?|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38875924|accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=BBC News|date=February 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name="DFP_120317">{{cite news|last1=Henderson|first1=Stephen|title=Betsy DeVos and the twilight of public education |url=http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/stephen-henderson/2016/12/03/betsy-devos-education-donald-trump/94728574/ |accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=[[Detroit Free Press]]|date=December 3, 2016}}</ref> Rebecca Mead of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' questioned the efficacy of Michigan's charter school system, which DeVos has supported.<ref name=newyorker /> [[Randi Weingarten]], president of the [[American Federation of Teachers]], called DeVos "the most ideological, anti–public education nominee" since the position became a cabinet position.<ref name=":0" /> The Michigan chapter of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] and the Michigan Democratic Party opposed DeVos's nomination.<ref name="insider">{{cite news|last1=Mark|first1=genera|title=Meet Betsy DeVos, the polarizing charter-school advocate Trump has tapped as education secretary|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/betsy-devos-trump-education-secretary-common-core-choice-2016-11|accessdate=January 5, 2017|publisher=Business Insider|date=November 25, 2016}}</ref> +''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' editor Stephen Henderson expressed concerns over DeVos's nomination, writing that "DeVos isn't an educator, or an education leader".<ref name="BBC_020517">{{cite news|title=Why is Betsy DeVos, Trump's pick for education secretary, so unpopular?|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38875924|accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=BBC News|date=February 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name="DFP_120317">{{cite news|last1=Henderson|first1=Stephen|title=Betsy DeVos and the twilight of public education |url=http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/stephen-henderson/2016/12/03/betsy-devos-education-donald-trump/94728574/ |accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=[[Detroit Free Press]]|date=December 3, 2016}}</ref> Rebecca Mead of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' questioned the efficacy of Michigan's charter school system, which DeVos has supported.<ref name=newyorker /> [[Randi Weingarten]], president of the [[American Federation of Teachers]], called DeVos "the most ideological, anti-public education nominee" since the position became a cabinet position.<ref name=":0" /> The Michigan chapter of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] and the Michigan Democratic Party opposed DeVos's nomination.<ref name="insider">{{cite news|last1=Mark|first1=genera|title=Meet Betsy DeVos, the polarizing charter-school advocate Trump has tapped as education secretary|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/betsy-devos-trump-education-secretary-common-core-choice-2016-11|accessdate=January 5, 2017|publisher=Business Insider|date=November 25, 2016}}</ref> -Former presidential candidates [[Jeb Bush]] and [[Mitt Romney]] respectively called DeVos an "outstanding pick" and a "smart choice".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/23/us/politics/betsy-devos-trumps-education-pick-has-steered-money-from-public-schools.html|title=Betsy DeVos, Trump's Education Pick, Has Steered Money From Public Schools |last=Zernike |first=Kate |date=November 23, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref><ref name="WaPo_010917">{{cite news|last1=Romney|first1=Mitt|title=Mitt Romney op-ed: Betsy DeVos a smart choice for education secretary |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mitt-romney-trump-has-made-a-smart-choice-for-education-secretary/2017/01/06/627550e0-d421-11e6-9cb0-54ab630851e8_story.html|accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=Washington Post|date=January 9, 2017}}</ref> Republican Senator [[Ben Sasse]] said DeVos "has made a career out of standing up to powerful and connected special interests on behalf of poor kids who are too often forgotten by Washington". In an opinion editorial, ''[[The Chicago Tribune]]'' wrote that "DeVos has helped lead the national battle to expand education opportunities for children".<ref>{{cite news|title=Editorial: The case for Betsy DeVos |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-betsy-devos-donald-trump-education-secretary-charter-voucher-edit-20161201-story.html|accessdate=January 5, 2017|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=December 1, 2016}}</ref> +Former presidential candidates [[Jeb Bush]] and [[Mitt Romney]] respectively called DeVos an "outstanding pick" and a "smart choice".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/23/us/politics/betsy-devos-trumps-education-pick-has-steered-money-from-public-schools.html|title=Betsy DeVos, Trump's Education Pick, Has Steered Money From Public Schools |last=Zernike |first=Kate |date=November 23, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref><ref name="WaPo_010917">{{cite news|last1=Romney|first1=Mitt|title=Mitt Romney op-ed: Betsy DeVos a smart choice for education secretary |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mitt-romney-trump-has-made-a-smart-choice-for-education-secretary/2017/01/06/627550e0-d421-11e6-9cb0-54ab630851e8_story.html|accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=Washington Post|date=January 9, 2017}}</ref> Republican Senator [[Ben Sasse]] said DeVos "has made a career out of standing up to powerful and connected special interests on behalf of poor kids who are too often forgotten by Washington". In an opinion editorial, the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' wrote that "DeVos has helped lead the national battle to expand education opportunities for children".<ref>{{cite news|title=Editorial: The case for Betsy DeVos |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-betsy-devos-donald-trump-education-secretary-charter-voucher-edit-20161201-story.html|accessdate=January 5, 2017|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=December 1, 2016}}</ref> ==== Confirmation hearing ==== @@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ }} -The confirmation hearing for DeVos was initially scheduled for January 10, 2017, but was delayed for one week after the [[Office of Government Ethics]] requested more time to review her financial disclosures.<ref>{{cite news |first=Rachael |last=Revesz |date=January 10, 2017 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/betsy-devos-secretary-of-education-senate-confirmation-delayed-political-donations-republicans-a7519531.html |title=Betsy DeVos' senate confirmation delayed amid concerns over her political donations |publisher=[[The Independent]] |accessdate=January 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Betsy DeVos, Trump's pick for education secretary, open to defunding public schools|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/betsy-devos-trump-s-pick-education-secretary-won-t-rule-n708171|accessdate=January 18, 2017|work=NBC News|date=January 17, 2017|language=en}}</ref> On January 17, 2017 the [[Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions|Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions]] held the hearing, which lasted three and one half hours and "quickly became a heated and partisan debate".<ref name="nyt-devos">{{cite web |last1=Zernike|first1=Kate|last2=Alcindor|first2=Yamiche|title=Betsy DeVos's Education Hearing Erupts into Partisan Debate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/us/politics/betsy-devos-education-senate-hearing.html|website=The New York Times |accessdate=January 27, 2017}}</ref> Democratic senators directed several questions toward her regarding her wealth, including questions about her family's political donations to the GOP and whether or not she had personal experience with [[student financial aid in the United States|financial aid]] or [[student loans]].<ref name="nyt-devos" /> Several media outlets reported that DeVos appeared to have [[plagiarism|plagiarized]] quotes from an [[Barack Obama|Obama]] administration official in written answers submitted to the Senate committee.<ref name="WaPo_013117">{{cite news|author1=Associated Press|title=DeVos May Have Used Official's Remarks Without Attribution|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/01/31/us/politics/ap-us-education-secretary-plagiarism-allegations.html?_r=0|accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=Washington Post|date=January 31, 2017}}</ref><ref name="CNN_013117">{{cite news |author1=Merica, Dan|author2=Scott, Eugene|title=Betsy DeVos appears to have plagiarized quotes for Senate questionnaire |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/31/politics/betsy-devos-plagiarism-obama-official/|accessdate=February 6, 2017 |publisher=CNN |date=January 31, 2017}}</ref> DeVos drew widespread media attention during the confirmation hearings for suggesting that guns might have a place in some schools due to a threat from grizzly bears.<ref name="SDUT_020717">{{cite news|title=Senate confirms Betsy DeVos as Education secretary as Pence breaks 50–50 tie|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/us-politics/ct-betsy-devos-education-secretary-confirmation-20170207-story.html|accessdate=February 7, 2017|publisher=[[San Diego Union Tribune]]|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Atlantic_020717">{{cite news|last1=Wong|first1=Alia|title=Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Has Already Affected Public Education|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/02/the-sensation-known-as-betsy-devos/515907/|accessdate=February 7, 2017|publisher=[[The Atlantic]]|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref><ref name="LAT_020717">{{cite news|title=Betsy DeVos squeaks through as Education secretary after Pence casts first-ever tie-breaking vote|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-na-pol-devos-senate-vote-20170207-story.html|accessdate=February 7, 2017|publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> DeVos's comment was later lampooned by TV personalities [[Kate McKinnon]] on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', [[Jimmy Kimmel]], [[Stephen Colbert]], and [[James Corden]].<ref name="RS_011917">{{cite news|last1=Blistein|first1=Jon|title=Watch Colbert, Kimmel, Corden Mock Betsy DeVos' Grizzly Bear Fears|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/watch-colbert-kimmel-mock-betsy-devos-grizzly-bear-fears-w461792 |accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=Rolling Stone|date=January 19, 2017}}</ref><ref name="MLive_020517">{{cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Malachi|title='Saturday Night Live' jabs Betsy DeVos in Sean Spicer skit|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/02/saturday_night_live_skewers_be.html|accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=[[MLive]]|date=February 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name="WaPo_011917">{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Emma|title=With lightning speed, Betsy DeVos became a target of late-night comics|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/01/19/with-lightning-speed-betsy-devos-became-a-target-of-late-night-comics/|accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=Washington Post|date=January 19, 2017}}</ref> +The confirmation hearing for DeVos was initially scheduled for January 10, 2017, but was delayed for one week after the [[United States Office of Government Ethics|Office of Government Ethics]] requested more time to review her financial disclosures.<ref>{{cite news |first=Rachael |last=Revesz |date=January 10, 2017 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/betsy-devos-secretary-of-education-senate-confirmation-delayed-political-donations-republicans-a7519531.html |title=Betsy DeVos' senate confirmation delayed amid concerns over her political donations |publisher=[[The Independent]] |accessdate=January 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Betsy DeVos, Trump's pick for education secretary, open to defunding public schools|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/betsy-devos-trump-s-pick-education-secretary-won-t-rule-n708171|accessdate=January 18, 2017|work=NBC News|date=January 17, 2017|language=en}}</ref> On January 17, 2017 the [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions|Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions]] held the hearing, which lasted three-and-one-half hours and "quickly became a heated and partisan debate".<ref name="nyt-devos">{{cite web |last1=Zernike|first1=Kate|last2=Alcindor|first2=Yamiche|title=Betsy DeVos's Education Hearing Erupts into Partisan Debate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/us/politics/betsy-devos-education-senate-hearing.html|website=The New York Times |accessdate=January 27, 2017}}</ref> Democratic senators directed several questions toward her regarding her wealth, including questions about her family's political donations to the GOP and whether or not she had personal experience with [[Student financial aid (United States)|financial aid]] or [[student loan]]s.<ref name="nyt-devos" /> Several media outlets reported that DeVos appeared to have [[plagiarism|plagiarized]] quotes from an [[Barack Obama|Obama]] administration official in written answers submitted to the Senate committee.<ref name="WaPo_013117">{{cite news|author1=Associated Press|title=DeVos May Have Used Official's Remarks Without Attribution|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/01/31/us/politics/ap-us-education-secretary-plagiarism-allegations.html?_r=0|accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=Washington Post|date=January 31, 2017}}</ref><ref name="CNN_013117">{{cite news |author1=Merica, Dan|author2=Scott, Eugene|title=Betsy DeVos appears to have plagiarized quotes for Senate questionnaire |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/31/politics/betsy-devos-plagiarism-obama-official/|accessdate=February 6, 2017 |publisher=CNN |date=January 31, 2017}}</ref> DeVos drew widespread media attention during the confirmation hearings for suggesting that guns might have a place in some schools due to a threat from grizzly bears.<ref name="SDUT_020717">{{cite news|title=Senate confirms Betsy DeVos as Education secretary as Pence breaks 50–50 tie|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/us-politics/ct-betsy-devos-education-secretary-confirmation-20170207-story.html|accessdate=February 7, 2017|publisher=[[San Diego Union Tribune]]|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Atlantic_020717">{{cite news|last1=Wong|first1=Alia|title=Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Has Already Affected Public Education|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/02/the-sensation-known-as-betsy-devos/515907/|accessdate=February 7, 2017|publisher=[[The Atlantic]]|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref><ref name="LAT_020717">{{cite news|title=Betsy DeVos squeaks through as Education secretary after Pence casts first-ever tie-breaking vote|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-na-pol-devos-senate-vote-20170207-story.html|accessdate=February 7, 2017|publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> DeVos's comment was later lampooned by TV personalities [[Kate McKinnon]] on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', [[Jimmy Kimmel]], [[Stephen Colbert]], and [[James Corden]].<ref name="RS_011917">{{cite news|last1=Blistein|first1=Jon|title=Watch Colbert, Kimmel, Corden Mock Betsy DeVos' Grizzly Bear Fears|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/watch-colbert-kimmel-mock-betsy-devos-grizzly-bear-fears-w461792 |accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=Rolling Stone|date=January 19, 2017}}</ref><ref name="MLive_020517">{{cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Malachi|title='Saturday Night Live' jabs Betsy DeVos in Sean Spicer skit|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/02/saturday_night_live_skewers_be.html|accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=[[MLive]]|date=February 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name="WaPo_011917">{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Emma|title=With lightning speed, Betsy DeVos became a target of late-night comics|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/01/19/with-lightning-speed-betsy-devos-became-a-target-of-late-night-comics/|accessdate=February 6, 2017|publisher=Washington Post|date=January 19, 2017}}</ref> -Prior to DeVos's confirmation, numerous senators from both parties reported tens of thousands of their [[constituent (politics)|constituents]] having contacted their offices in opposition to the confirmation of DeVos.<ref name="hill-devos">{{cite web |last1=Wheeler|first1=Lydia|last2=Shelbourne|first2=Mallory|title=Anti-Devos calls jam Senate phone lines |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/316321-anti-devos-calls-jam-senate-phone-lines|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|accessdate=January 27, 2017}}</ref> More than 300 state lawmakers from across the U.S., overwhelmingly Democrats, voiced their opposition to DeVos's appointment in a letter to the U.S. Senate sent the day before a scheduled vote on her nomination.<ref name="WaPo_013017">{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Emma|title=Progressives launch last-minute push against Betsy DeVos, and conservatives counter with online ad campaign|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/01/30/progressives-launch-last-minute-push-against-betsy-devos-and-conservatives-counter-with-online-ad-campaign/|accessdate=January 30, 2017 |publisher=Washington Post|date=January 30, 2017}}</ref> DeVos's nomination was supported by 18 Republican governors, including [[John Kasich]] and [[Rick Snyder]], along with the nine Republican members of Congress from Michigan.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nann Burke |first1=Melissa|title=Vote on DeVos looms as Democrats raise more concerns |url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/30/vote-devos-looms-democrats-raise-concerns/97244564/|accessdate=January 30, 2017|publisher=The Detroit News|date=January 30, 2017}}</ref> +Prior to DeVos's confirmation, numerous senators from both parties reported tens of thousands of their [[Voting|constituents]] having contacted their offices in opposition to the confirmation of DeVos.<ref name="hill-devos">{{cite web |last1=Wheeler|first1=Lydia|last2=Shelbourne|first2=Mallory|title=Anti-Devos calls jam Senate phone lines |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/316321-anti-devos-calls-jam-senate-phone-lines|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|accessdate=January 27, 2017}}</ref> More than 300 state lawmakers from across the U.S., overwhelmingly Democrats, voiced their opposition to DeVos's appointment in a letter to the U.S. Senate sent the day before a scheduled vote on her nomination.<ref name="WaPo_013017">{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Emma|title=Progressives launch last-minute push against Betsy DeVos, and conservatives counter with online ad campaign|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/01/30/progressives-launch-last-minute-push-against-betsy-devos-and-conservatives-counter-with-online-ad-campaign/|accessdate=January 30, 2017 |publisher=Washington Post|date=January 30, 2017}}</ref> DeVos's nomination was supported by 18 Republican governors, including [[John Kasich]] and [[Rick Snyder]], along with the nine Republican members of Congress from Michigan.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nann Burke |first1=Melissa|title=Vote on DeVos looms as Democrats raise more concerns |url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/30/vote-devos-looms-democrats-raise-concerns/97244564/|accessdate=January 30, 2017|publisher=The Detroit News|date=January 30, 2017}}</ref> ==== Debate and final vote ==== @@ -93,5 +93,5 @@ === Tenure === -On February 10, 2017, as DeVos made a visit to Jefferson Academy, a public middle school located in [[Southwest, Washington, D.C.]], in her first official appearance as Secretary at a [[District of Columbia Public Schools|D.C. public school]], dozens of protesters showed up to prevent her appearance and physically blocked her from entering through the back entrance of the school. DeVos was eventually able to enter the school through a side entrance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Emma |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/protesters-rally-at-dc-school-ahead-of-visit-by-education-secretary-betsy-devos/2017/02/10/faad4962-ef06-11e6-b4ff-ac2cf509efe5_story.html |title=Protesters briefly block Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's visit to a D.C. school |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=February 10, 2017 |accessdate=February 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Firozi |first1=Paulina |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/news/318924-devos-blocked-from-entering-dc-school |title=Protesters block DeVos from entering DC school |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=February 10, 2017 |accessdate=February 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Stratford |first1=Michael |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/betsy-devos-dc-school-jefferson-academy-protest-234903 |title=Protesters block DeVos from entering D.C. middle school |work=[[Politico]] |date=February 10, 2017 |accessdate=February 10, 2017}}</ref> Subsequent to the incident, the [[U.S. Marshals Service]], rather than Education Department employees, began providing security for her. Education Department officials declined requests for information about the deployment of marshals or the current tasks of the Secretary's displaced security team normally assigned to her. Many of those security personnel are former Secret Service agents who have worked at the department for many years. Regarding the withdrawal of the department's team, former Education Secretary [[Arne Duncan]] said, "That's a waste of taxpayer money," Duncan said of the use of U.S. Marshals. DeVos said that on the basis of her first few days in the job, she had concerns that some Education Department employees were sympathetic to the Obama administration. "I . . . would not be surprised if there are also those that would try to subvert the mission of this organization and this department," she stated. Asked what she could do about that, she said, "Whatever can be done will be done, and it will be done swiftly and surely."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/betsy-devos-is-now-being-guarded-by-us-marshals/2017/02/17/7dc341f4-f54b-11e6-8d72-263470bf0401_story.html Betsy DeVos being guarded by U.S. Marshals Service] m, ''[[The Washington Post]]'', Danielle Douglas-Gabriel & Emma Brown, February 17, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> +On February 10, 2017, as DeVos made a visit to Jefferson Academy, a public middle school located in [[Southwest, Washington, D.C.]], in her first official appearance as Secretary at a [[District of Columbia Public Schools|D.C. public school]], dozens of protesters showed up to prevent her appearance and physically blocked her from entering through the back entrance of the school. DeVos was eventually able to enter the school through a side entrance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Emma |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/protesters-rally-at-dc-school-ahead-of-visit-by-education-secretary-betsy-devos/2017/02/10/faad4962-ef06-11e6-b4ff-ac2cf509efe5_story.html |title=Protesters briefly block Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's visit to a D.C. school |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=February 10, 2017 |accessdate=February 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Firozi |first1=Paulina |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/news/318924-devos-blocked-from-entering-dc-school |title=Protesters block DeVos from entering DC school |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=February 10, 2017 |accessdate=February 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Stratford |first1=Michael |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/betsy-devos-dc-school-jefferson-academy-protest-234903 |title=Protesters block DeVos from entering D.C. middle school |work=[[Politico]] |date=February 10, 2017 |accessdate=February 10, 2017}}</ref> Subsequent to the incident, the [[United States Marshals Service|U.S. Marshals Service]], rather than Education Department employees, began providing security for her. Education Department officials declined requests for information about the deployment of marshals or the current tasks of the Secretary's displaced security team normally assigned to her. Many of those security personnel are former Secret Service agents who have worked at the department for many years. Regarding the withdrawal of the department's team, former Education Secretary [[Arne Duncan]] said, "That's a waste of taxpayer money," Duncan said of the use of U.S. Marshals. DeVos said that on the basis of her first few days in the job, she had concerns that some Education Department employees were sympathetic to the Obama administration. "I . . . would not be surprised if there are also those that would try to subvert the mission of this organization and this department," she stated. Asked what she could do about that, she said, "Whatever can be done will be done, and it will be done swiftly and surely."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/betsy-devos-is-now-being-guarded-by-us-marshals/2017/02/17/7dc341f4-f54b-11e6-8d72-263470bf0401_story.html Betsy DeVos being guarded by U.S. Marshals Service] m, ''[[The Washington Post]]'', Danielle Douglas-Gabriel & Emma Brown, February 17, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> On February 27, 2017, DeVos released an odd statement calling [[Historically black colleges and universities|historically black colleges]] "real pioneers when it comes to school choice", causing controversy as some pointed out the schools originated after segregation laws prevented African-Americans from attending others. DeVos later acknowledged racism as an important factor in the history of historically black colleges.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/betsy-devos-hbcu-historically-black-colleges-235498|title=DeVos sparks controversy with comments on black colleges|date=February 28, 2017|first=Benjamin|last=Wermund |publisher=CNN|accessdate=February 28, 2017}}</ref> @@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ On March 24, 2017, during a visit to the Osceola County campus of [[Valencia College]], DeVos said she was considering the extension of federal financial aid for students that were year-round and interested in placing more focus on community colleges.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-betsy-devos-valencia-campus-20170322-story.html|title=Education Secretary Betsy Devos tours Valencia campus in Osceola|date=March 24, 2017|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|first=Gabrielle|last=Russon}}</ref> -On March 29, 2017, DeVos delivered her first extended policy address at the [[Brookings Institution]], stating an interest in implementing choice policies directed toward children as individuals and criticizing the [[Barack Obama|Obama]] administration's additional funding of $7&nbsp;billion for the U.S.'s worst performing schools as "throwing money at the problem" in an attempt to find a solution.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/29/us/politics/betsy-devos-education-school-choice-voucher.html|title=Betsy DeVos Calls for More School Choice, Saying Money Isn't the Answer|date=March 29, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Erica L.|last=Green}}</ref> +On March 29, 2017, DeVos delivered her first extended policy address at the [[Brookings Institution]], stating an interest in implementing choice policies directed toward children as individuals and criticizing the [[Barack Obama|Obama]] administration's additional funding of $7&nbsp;billion for the U.S.'s worst-performing schools as "throwing money at the problem" in an attempt to find a solution.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/29/us/politics/betsy-devos-education-school-choice-voucher.html|title=Betsy DeVos Calls for More School Choice, Saying Money Isn't the Answer|date=March 29, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Erica L.|last=Green}}</ref> -On April 6, 2017, DeVos visited [[Florida International University]], marking her first visit to a public university, where she toured an area designed to resemble a hospital ward and was confronted by around 30 protestors.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/04/06/devos-visits-her-first-public-university-and-faces-protesters-in-miami/ |title=In Miami, DeVos visits first public university since becoming education secretary, faces protesters |first=Susan |last=Svrluga|date=April 6, 2017|publisher=Washington Post}}</ref> The following day, the [[U.S. Marshals Service]] said after a threat evaluation was conducted in February that DeVos would be given additional security, projecting a cost of $7.8&nbsp;million between February and September.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/04/07/us/politics/ap-us-devos-security.html?_r=0 |title=Additional Security for DeVos May Cost Up to $7.8 Million|date=April 7, 2017|publisher=The New York Times}}</ref> +On April 6, 2017, DeVos visited [[Florida International University]], marking her first visit to a public university, where she toured an area designed to resemble a hospital ward and was confronted by around 30 protestors.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/04/06/devos-visits-her-first-public-university-and-faces-protesters-in-miami/ |title=In Miami, DeVos visits first public university since becoming education secretary, faces protesters |first=Susan |last=Svrluga|date=April 6, 2017|publisher=Washington Post}}</ref> The following day, the [[United States Marshals Service|U.S. Marshals Service]] said after a threat evaluation was conducted in February that DeVos would be given additional security, projecting a cost of $7.8&nbsp;million between February and September.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/04/07/us/politics/ap-us-devos-security.html?_r=0 |title=Additional Security for DeVos May Cost Up to $7.8 Million|date=April 7, 2017|publisher=The New York Times}}</ref> On April 11, 2017, DeVos undid several Obama administration policy memos issued by [[John King Jr.]] and Ted Mitchell in an attempt to "create a student loan servicing environment that provides the highest quality customer service and increases accountability and transparency for all borrowers, while also limiting the cost to taxpayers".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-betsy-devos-student-loan-protections-20170411-story.html|title=Betsy DeVos undoes Obama's student loan protections|date=April 11, 2017|first=Danielle Douglas|last=Gabriel|publisher=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> @@ -107,9 +107,9 @@ In April 2017, DeVos praised the President's nomination of [[Carlos G. Muñiz]] as the Department's [[general counsel]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Green|first1=Erica L.|title=2 Education Dept. Picks Raise Fears on Civil Rights Enforcement |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/us/politics/carlos-muniz-candace-jackson-education.html|accessdate=July 14, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 5, 2017|page=A11}}</ref> -In April 2017, DeVos named [[Candice Jackson]] Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department's [[Office for Civil Rights]], where she will be acting Assistant Secretary while that higher, Senate-confirmed appointment is vacant.<ref name=NYT3june17>{{cite news |last1=Green|first1=Erica L.|title=Some Hires by Betsy DeVos Are a Stark Departure From Her Reputation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/02/us/politics/betsy-devos-education-secretary-hiring-diversity.html|accessdate=July 14, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 3, 2017|page=A12}}</ref> DeVos named Jason Botel Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.<ref name=NYT3june17/> Botel, a registered Democrat who supported President Obama and the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement, founded the [[Knowledge Is Power Program|KIPP]] Ujima Village Academy in Baltimore, after working for [[Teach For America]].<ref name=NYT3june17/> +In April 2017, DeVos named [[Candice Jackson]] Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department's [[Office for Civil Rights]], where she will be acting Assistant Secretary while that higher, Senate-confirmed appointment is vacant.<ref name=NYT3june17>{{cite news |last1=Green|first1=Erica L.|title=Some Hires by Betsy DeVos Are a Stark Departure From Her Reputation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/02/us/politics/betsy-devos-education-secretary-hiring-diversity.html|accessdate=July 14, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 3, 2017|page=A12}}</ref> DeVos named Jason Botel Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.<ref name=NYT3june17/> Botel, a registered Democrat who supported President Obama and the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement, founded the [[KIPP (organization)|KIPP]] Ujima Village Academy in [[Baltimore]], after working for [[Teach For America]].<ref name=NYT3june17/> -On May 10, 2017, DeVos gave a [[commencement speech]] at [[Bethune–Cookman University]], a historically black college, and during her speech a majority of the students booed DeVos, with about half of them standing up and turning their backs to her.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/05/10/alumni-others-deliver-petitions-demanding-historically-black-university-drop-betsy-devos-as-commencement-speaker/|title=Students boo Betsy DeVos as commencement speaker at historically black university|author=Susan Svrluga|website=The Washington Post|date=May 10, 2017}}</ref> She also received an [[Honorary degree|Honorary Doctorate]] from [[Bethune–Cookman University]]. +On May 10, 2017, DeVos gave a [[commencement speech]] at [[Bethune–Cookman University]], a [[Historically black colleges and universities|historically black college]], and during her speech a majority of the students booed DeVos, with about half of them standing up and turning their backs to her.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/05/10/alumni-others-deliver-petitions-demanding-historically-black-university-drop-betsy-devos-as-commencement-speaker/|title=Students boo Betsy DeVos as commencement speaker at historically black university|author=Susan Svrluga|website=The Washington Post|date=May 10, 2017}}</ref> She also received an [[Honorary degree|honorary doctorate]] from Bethune–Cookman University. -On May 22, 2017, DeVos announced the Trump administration was offering "the most ambitious expansion" of school choice within American history. DeVos cited [[Indiana]] (which has the U.S.'s largest [[school voucher]] program) as a potential model for a nationwide policy, but did not give specific proposals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2017/05/22/devos-pushes-school-choice-gives-no-specifics/ |title= Betsy DeVos pushes school choice in speech to advocacy group, gives no specifics |first=Maria |last=Danilova |date= May 22, 2017 |publisher= Denver Post}}</ref> In a May 2017 House of Representatives committee hearing, Rep. Katherine Clark, said an Indiana private school which takes publicly funded vouchers maintains it is entitled to deny admission to LGBT students or those coming from families with "homosexual or bisexual activity." Clark asked if she would inform Indiana that it could not discriminate in that way if it accepted federal funding, and asked her how she would respond in the event a voucher school rejected black students but a state "said it was okay." DeVos answered: "Well again, the Office of Civil Rights and our Title IX protections are broadly applicable across the board, but when it comes to parents making choices on behalf of their students. . ." Clark stopped her saying, "This isn't about parents making choices, this is about the use of federal dollars. Is there any situation? Would you say to Indiana, that school cannot discriminate against LGBT students if you want to receive federal dollars? Or would you say the state has the flexibility?" DeVos responded: "I believe states should continue to have flexibility in putting together programs. . ."<ref name=Tribune>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-betsy-devos-education-20180312-story.html Analysis: 9 controversial - and highly revealing - things Betsy DeVos has said], ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', Valerie Strauss, March 12, Retrieved March 13, 2018.</ref> CBS reporter Lesley Stahl questioned her, in a March 2018 "60 Minutes" interview, about the documented failure of the DeVos programs to demonstrate a positive result, in Michigan, her home state: "Your argument that if you take funds away that the schools will get better is not working in Michigan...where you had a huge impact and influence over the direction of the school system." Stahl added, "The public schools here are doing worse than they did." DeVos was unable to provide any actual examples of improvement, but stated there were "pockets" where schools had done better than public schools.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/03/12/why-it-was-so-easy-for-60-minutes-to-rebut-betsy-devoss-charter-school-arguments/ Why it was so easy for ‘60 Minutes’ to rebut Betsy DeVos’s charter-school arguments],''[[The Washington Post]]'', Philip Bump, March 12, Retrieved March 13, 2018.</ref> +On May 22, 2017, DeVos announced the Trump administration was offering "the most ambitious expansion" of school choice within American history. DeVos cited [[Indiana]] (which has the U.S.'s largest [[school voucher]] program) as a potential model for a nationwide policy, but did not give specific proposals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2017/05/22/devos-pushes-school-choice-gives-no-specifics/ |title= Betsy DeVos pushes school choice in speech to advocacy group, gives no specifics |first=Maria |last=Danilova |date= May 22, 2017 |publisher= Denver Post}}</ref> In a May 2017 House of Representatives committee hearing, Rep. Katherine Clark, said an Indiana private school which takes publicly funded vouchers maintains it is entitled to deny admission to LGBT students or those coming from families with "homosexual or bisexual activity." Clark asked if she would inform Indiana that it could not discriminate in that way if it accepted federal funding, and asked her how she would respond in the event a voucher school rejected black students but a state "said it was okay." DeVos answered: "Well again, the Office of Civil Rights and our Title IX protections are broadly applicable across the board, but when it comes to parents making choices on behalf of their students..." Clark stopped her saying, "This isn't about parents making choices, this is about the use of federal dollars. Is there any situation? Would you say to Indiana, that school cannot discriminate against LGBT students if you want to receive federal dollars? Or would you say the state has the flexibility?" DeVos responded: "I believe states should continue to have flexibility in putting together programs ..."<ref name=Tribune>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-betsy-devos-education-20180312-story.html Analysis: 9 controversial - and highly revealing - things Betsy DeVos has said], ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', Valerie Strauss, March 12, Retrieved March 13, 2018.</ref> CBS reporter [[Lesley Stahl]] questioned her, in a March 2018 ''[[60 Minutes]]'' interview, about the documented failure of the DeVos programs to demonstrate a positive result, in Michigan, her home state: "Your argument that if you take funds away that the schools will get better is not working in Michigan ... where you had a huge impact and influence over the direction of the school system." Stahl added, "The public schools here are doing worse than they did." DeVos was unable to provide any actual examples of improvement, but stated there were "pockets" where schools had done better than public schools.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/03/12/why-it-was-so-easy-for-60-minutes-to-rebut-betsy-devoss-charter-school-arguments/ Why it was so easy for ‘60 Minutes’ to rebut Betsy DeVos’s charter-school arguments],''[[The Washington Post]]'', Philip Bump, March 12, Retrieved March 13, 2018.</ref> On June 2, 2017, DeVos announced her support of President Trump's decision to withdraw from the [[Paris Agreement]] the prior day.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/336139-devos-certainly-the-climate-changes |date=June 2, 2017 |title= DeVos: 'Certainly, the climate changes' |first=Mark |last= Hensch |publisher= The Hill}}</ref> @@ -117,12 +117,11 @@ On June 6, 2017, Devos said [[states' rights]] would determine private schools being allocated funds by the federal government during an appearance before members of a House appropriations committee.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/regulation/administration/336517-devos-all-school-that-receive-federal-funds-must-follow-federal-law |title=DeVos: All schools that receive federal funds must follow federal law |date=June 6, 2017 |first=Lydia |last= Wheeler |publisher= The Hill}}</ref> -On July 6, 2017, Democratic attorneys general in 18 states and Washington D.C., led by Massachusetts's A.G. [[Maura Healey]], filed a federal lawsuit against DeVos for suspending the implementation of rules that were meant to protect students attending for-profit colleges. The rules, developed during the Obama administration, were meant to take effect on July 1, 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cowley|first1=Stacy|title=18 States Sue Betsy DeVos Over Student Loan Protections |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/06/business/dealbook/massachusetts-betsy-devos-lawsuit.html?mcubz=1|accessdate=July 18, 2017 |work=The New York Times|date=July 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name="guardian-6jul2017">{{cite news |title= Eighteen states sue Betsy DeVos for suspending rules on for-profit colleges |url= https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/06/betsy-devos-lawsuit-for-profit-colleges |accessdate=July 6, 2017 |agency= Associated Press |newspaper=The Guardian |date= July 6, 2017}}</ref> +On July 6, 2017, Democratic attorneys-general in 18 states and Washington, D.C., led by Massachusetts' attorney-general [[Maura Healey]], filed a federal lawsuit against DeVos for suspending the implementation of rules that were meant to protect students attending for-profit colleges. The rules, developed during the Obama administration, were meant to take effect on July 1, 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cowley|first1=Stacy|title=18 States Sue Betsy DeVos Over Student Loan Protections |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/06/business/dealbook/massachusetts-betsy-devos-lawsuit.html?mcubz=1|accessdate=July 18, 2017 |work=The New York Times|date=July 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name="guardian-6jul2017">{{cite news |title= Eighteen states sue Betsy DeVos for suspending rules on for-profit colleges |url= https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/06/betsy-devos-lawsuit-for-profit-colleges |accessdate=July 6, 2017 |agency= Associated Press |newspaper=The Guardian |date= July 6, 2017}}</ref> -On July 13, 2017, [[Candice Jackson]], who is a sexual assault survivor, organized a meeting with DeVos, college sexual assault victims, accused assailants, and higher education officials, and said she would look at policies on sexual assault accusations on campuses from the Obama administration to see if accused students were treated within their rights.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Erica L. |last2= Stolberg |first2= Sheryl Gay |title= Campus Rape Policies Get a New Look as the Accused Get DeVos's Ear |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/12/us/politics/campus-rape-betsy-devos-title-iv-education-trump-candice-jackson.html |accessdate= July 14, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date= July 13, 2017 |page=A1}}</ref> Asked by [[CBS]] [[60 Minutes]] reporter [[Lesley Stahl]] about her repeal of [[Barack Obama|Obama]] administration guidelines for colleges dealing with reports of sexual assaults, she said her concern was for men falsely accused of such assaults. "Survivors, victims of a lack of due process, and campus administrators have all told me that the current approach does a disservice to everyone involved," said DeVos. -<ref name=Post>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/03/12/education-secretary-betsy-devos-stumbles-during-pointed-60-minutes-interview/ Education Secretary Betsy DeVos stumbles during pointed ‘60 Minutes’ interview],''[[The Washington Post]]'', Valerie Strauss, March 12, Retrieved March 13, 2018.</ref><ref name=Tribune /> +On July 13, 2017, [[Candice Jackson]], who is a sexual assault survivor, organized a meeting with DeVos, college sexual assault victims, accused assailants, and higher education officials, and said she would look at policies on sexual assault accusations on campuses from the Obama administration to see if accused students were treated within their rights.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Erica L. |last2= Stolberg |first2= Sheryl Gay |title= Campus Rape Policies Get a New Look as the Accused Get DeVos's Ear |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/12/us/politics/campus-rape-betsy-devos-title-iv-education-trump-candice-jackson.html |accessdate= July 14, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date= July 13, 2017 |page=A1}}</ref> Asked by [[CBS]] ''[[60 Minutes]]'' reporter [[Lesley Stahl]] about her repeal of [[Barack Obama|Obama]] administration guidelines for colleges dealing with reports of sexual assaults, she said her concern was for men falsely accused of such assaults. "Survivors, victims of a lack of due process, and campus administrators have all told me that the current approach does a disservice to everyone involved," said DeVos.<ref name=Post>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/03/12/education-secretary-betsy-devos-stumbles-during-pointed-60-minutes-interview/ Education Secretary Betsy DeVos stumbles during pointed ‘60 Minutes’ interview],''[[The Washington Post]]'', Valerie Strauss, March 12, Retrieved March 13, 2018.</ref><ref name=Tribune /> -In October 2017, DeVos revoked 72 [[Administrative guidance|guidance documents]] of the [[Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services]] which outlined the rights of disabled students under the [[Individuals with Disabilities Education Act]] and the [[Rehabilitation Act]].<ref>Moriah Balingit, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/10/21/devos-rescinds-72-guidance-documents-outlining-rights-for-disabled-students/ DeVos rescinds 72 guidance documents outlining rights for disabled students], ''The Washington Post'' (October 21, 2017).</ref> +In October 2017, DeVos revoked 72 [[Administrative guidance|guidance documents]] of the [[Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services]] which outlined the rights of disabled students under the [[Individuals with Disabilities Education Act]] and the [[Rehabilitation Act of 1973|Rehabilitation Act]].<ref>Moriah Balingit, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/10/21/devos-rescinds-72-guidance-documents-outlining-rights-for-disabled-students/ DeVos rescinds 72 guidance documents outlining rights for disabled students], ''The Washington Post'' (October 21, 2017).</ref> -In January 2018, Devos said in a speech that the [[American Federation of Teachers]] (AFT) found that "60 percent of its teachers reported having moderate to no influence over the content and skills taught in their own classrooms." In response, AFT noted that in the same survey of around 5000 educators, 86% felt that Devos had disrespected them.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chapman |first1=Matthew |title=Betsy DeVos accidentally promotes study showing teachers feel disrespected – by her|url=https://shareblue.com/betsy-devos-accidentally-promotes-study-showing-teachers-feel-disrespected-by-her/|publisher=[[Shareblue Media]]|accessdate=January 18, 2018}}</ref> +In January 2018, Devos said in a speech that the [[American Federation of Teachers]] (AFT) found that "60 percent of its teachers reported having moderate to no influence over the content and skills taught in their own classrooms." In response, AFT noted that in the same survey of around 5,000 educators, 86% felt that Devos had disrespected them.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chapman |first1=Matthew |title=Betsy DeVos accidentally promotes study showing teachers feel disrespected – by her|url=https://shareblue.com/betsy-devos-accidentally-promotes-study-showing-teachers-feel-disrespected-by-her/|publisher=[[Shareblue Media]]|accessdate=January 18, 2018}}</ref> In March 2018, DeVos announced a School Safety Commission, to provide meaningful and actionable recommendations. Members were four Cabinet members, including herself.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/secretary-devos-forms-school-safety-commission|title=Secretary DeVos Forms School Safety Commission {{!}} U.S. Department of Education|website=www.ed.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-05-19}}</ref> The organization held a meeting on March 28 and a gathering of school shooting survivors and families on April 17.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/education-secretary-betsy-devos-says-federal-school-safety-commission-will-n876446|title=Education Secretary Betsy DeVos says school safety commission will issue 'best practices' by year's end|work=NBC News|access-date=2018-05-24|language=en-US}}</ref> @@ -130,5 +129,5 @@ In mid-May 2018, ''The New York Times'' reported that under DeVos, the size of the team investigating abuses and fraud by for-profit colleges was reduced from about twelve members under the Obama administration to three, with their task also being scaled back to "processing student loan forgiveness applications and looking at smaller compliance cases". DeVos also appointed Julian Schmoke as the team's new supervisor; Schmoke was a former dean of DeVry Education Group, which was one of the institutions the team had been investigating. The investigation into DeVry was not the only one stopped, others include those of Bridgepoint Education and Career Education Corporation. The Education Department has hired more ex-employees and people affiliated with those institutions, such as Robert S. Eitel, senior counselor to DeVos, Diane Auer Jones, an advisor to the Department, and Carlos G. Muñiz, the Department's general counsel.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ivory|first1=Danielle|last2=Green|first2=Erica|last3=Eder|first3=Steve|title=Education Department Unwinds Unit Investigating Fraud at For-Profits|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/13/business/education-department-for-profit-colleges.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=29 May 2018}}</ref> Also reported by several news outlets was a sequence of payments made by DeVry to the DeVos Foundation. -In late May 2018, Devos said that she believed it was "a school decision" on whether to report a student's family to the [[Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] (ICE) if the student or their family are undocumented immigrants. However, under ''[[Plyler v. Doe]]'', the American Supreme Court ruled under the American constitution, schools are obligated to provide schooling irrespective of immigration status. The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] has said that because of this, it would be unconstitutional for schools to report students or their families to ICE.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Balingit|first1=Moriah|title='Astounding ignorance of the law': Civil rights groups slam DeVos for saying schools can report undocumented students|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2018/05/23/astounding-ignorance-of-the-law-civil-rights-groups-slam-devos-for-saying-schools-can-report-undocumented-students|work=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=29 May 2018}}</ref> +In late May 2018, Devos said that she believed it was "a school decision" on whether to report a student's family to the [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] (ICE) if the student or their family are undocumented immigrants. However, under ''[[Plyler v. Doe]]'', the American Supreme Court ruled under the American constitution, schools are obligated to provide schooling irrespective of immigration status. The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] has said that because of this, it would be unconstitutional for schools to report students or their families to ICE.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Balingit|first1=Moriah|title='Astounding ignorance of the law': Civil rights groups slam DeVos for saying schools can report undocumented students|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2018/05/23/astounding-ignorance-of-the-law-civil-rights-groups-slam-devos-for-saying-schools-can-report-undocumented-students|work=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=29 May 2018}}</ref> Whistleblower and former White House staffer, [[Omarosa Manigault Newman]] claimed that President Trump referred to her, after she left meetings, as "Ditzy" DeVos.<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/education-department-omarosa-peddling-lies-profit-1074861 'DISGRACED’ OMAROSA ‘PEDDLING LIES FOR PROFIT’ BY CLAIMING TRUMP CALLS BETSY DEVOS ‘DITZY,’ SAYS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT], ''[[Newsweek]]'', Ramsey Touchberry, August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 20918.</ref> @@ -138,10 +137,10 @@ ==Philanthropy and activism== === The Prince Foundation === -DeVos was listed for many years on IRS form [[Form 990]]s as the foundation's vice president (hitherto called the Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation). However she testified under oath in the Senate [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions|Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee]] hearing, in response to Senator [[Maggie Hassan]]'s questions, that she had nothing to do with the contributions made by her mother's foundation to conservative advocacy groups including [[Focus on the Family]] and the [[Family Research Council]].<ref>"[https://theintercept.com/2017/01/18/trump-education-nominee-betsy-devos-lied-to-the-senate/ Trump Education nominee Betsy DeVos lied to the Senate]". ''[[The Intercept]]'', Jeremy Scahill. January 18, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.</ref> +DeVos was listed for many years on IRS form [[Form 990]]s as the foundation's vice president (hitherto called the Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation). However, she testified under oath in the Senate [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions|Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee]] hearing, in response to Senator [[Maggie Hassan]]'s questions, that she had nothing to do with the contributions made by her mother's foundation to conservative advocacy groups including [[Focus on the Family]] and the [[Family Research Council]].<ref>"[https://theintercept.com/2017/01/18/trump-education-nominee-betsy-devos-lied-to-the-senate/ Trump Education nominee Betsy DeVos lied to the Senate]". ''[[The Intercept]]'', Jeremy Scahill. January 18, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.</ref> === Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation === The Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation was launched in 1989.<ref name="AboutDBDVF">{{cite web |publisher= Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation |location= Grand Rapids |title=About |url= http://www.dbdvfoundation.org/about/ |accessdate= July 5, 2013}}</ref><ref name="IP_030116"/> The foundation's giving, according to its website, is motivated by faith, and "is centered in cultivating leadership, accelerating transformation and leveraging support in five areas", namely education, community, arts, justice, and leadership.<ref name="DoDBDVF">{{cite web |author= <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher= Dick and Betsy DeVos Family |title= What We Do |url= http://www.dbdvfoundation.org/what-we-do/ |accessdate= July 5, 2013}}</ref> In 2015, the DeVos Foundation made $11.6&nbsp;million in charitable contributions, bringing the couple's lifetime charitable giving to $139&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martinez |first1= Shandra |title= Dick and Betsy DeVos lift the veil on their $139M in philanthropy |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/01/dick_and_betsy_devos_lift_the.html |accessdate= January 19, 2017 |publisher= MLive |date= January 9, 2017}}</ref> ''Forbes'' ranked the DeVos family No. 24 on its 2015 list of America's top givers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Savchuk |first=Katia |title= America's Top 50 Givers: Meet the philanthropists who gave away the most money in 2015 |url= https://www.forbes.com/top-givers/#4d3174102459 |accessdate= January 19, 2017 |work= Forbes |date= 2015}}</ref> -The DeVos Foundation has donated large amounts to hospitals, health research, arts organizations, Christian schools, evangelical missions, and conservative, free-market think tanks.<ref name="MJ_011717">{{cite news |last1=Rizga |first1= Kristina |title= Betsy Devos wants to use America's schools to build "God's kingdom"|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/betsy-devos-christian-schools-vouchers-charter-education-secretary |accessdate= February 4, 2017 |work=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |date=January 17, 2017}}</ref><ref name="DMT">{{cite news |last1=Guyette |first1=Curt |title= You don't know Dick |url=http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/you-dont-know-dick/Content?oid=2185621 |accessdate= February 4, 2017 |publisher= [[Detroit Metro Times]] |date= October 4, 2006}}</ref><ref name="CP_011817">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Samuel |title= Trump's Education Pick Betsy DeVos Criticized for Donating Millions to Christian Organizations |url= http://www.christianpost.com/news/trump-education-betsy-devos-donating-christian-173113/ |accessdate= February 4, 2017 |publisher= [[The Christian Post]] |date= January 18, 2017}}</ref> Of the $100&nbsp;million the foundation donated between 1999 until 2014, half of it went to Christian organizations.<ref name="MJ_011717"/> Organizations funded by the foundation include: Michigan's Foundation for Traditional Values; [[Center for Individual Rights]]; [[Acton Institute]]; [[Institute for Justice]]; [[Center for Individual Rights]]; Michigan's [[crisis pregnancy center|Pregnancy Resource Center]]; Right to Life Michigan Educational Fund; and Baptists for Life.<ref name="IP_030116">{{cite news |last1= Docksai |first1=Rick |title= School Choice, But Much More: Making Sense of DeVos Family Philanthropy |url= http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2016/3/1/school-choice-but-much-more-making-sense-of-devos-family-phi.html |accessdate= February 4, 2017 |work= [[Inside Philanthropy]] |date= March 1, 2016}}</ref><ref name="MJ_011717"/><ref name="DMT"/><ref name="HuffPo_012417">{{cite news |last1= Klein |first1= Rebecca |title= Speaker at Group Supported By Betsy DeVos Says Hitler Was Good at Reaching Children |url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/betsy-devos-student-statesmanship-institute_us_58866464e4b070d8cad498d4 |accessdate= February 4, 2017 |publisher= Huffington Post |date= January 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name="DB_011717">{{cite news |last1=Michaelson |first1=Jay |title= Betsy DeVos, Trump's Education Pick, Could Make Life Hell for LGBT Youth |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/17/trump-s-education-pick-betsy-devos-could-wreck-lgbt-protections.html |accessdate= February 4, 2017 |publisher=[[Daily Beast]] |date= January 17, 2017}}</ref> +The DeVos Foundation has donated large amounts to hospitals, health research, arts organizations, Christian schools, evangelical missions, and conservative, free-market [[think tank]]s.<ref name="MJ_011717">{{cite news |last1=Rizga |first1= Kristina |title= Betsy Devos wants to use America's schools to build "God's kingdom"|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/betsy-devos-christian-schools-vouchers-charter-education-secretary |accessdate= February 4, 2017 |work=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |date=January 17, 2017}}</ref><ref name="DMT">{{cite news |last1=Guyette |first1=Curt |title= You don't know Dick |url=http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/you-dont-know-dick/Content?oid=2185621 |accessdate= February 4, 2017 |publisher= [[Detroit Metro Times]] |date= October 4, 2006}}</ref><ref name="CP_011817">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Samuel |title= Trump's Education Pick Betsy DeVos Criticized for Donating Millions to Christian Organizations |url= http://www.christianpost.com/news/trump-education-betsy-devos-donating-christian-173113/ |accessdate= February 4, 2017 |publisher= [[The Christian Post]] |date= January 18, 2017}}</ref> Of the $100&nbsp;million the foundation donated between 1999 until 2014, half of it went to Christian organizations.<ref name="MJ_011717"/> Organizations funded by the foundation include: Michigan's Foundation for Traditional Values; [[Center for Individual Rights]]; [[Acton Institute]]; [[Institute for Justice]]; [[Center for Individual Rights]]; Michigan's [[crisis pregnancy center|Pregnancy Resource Center]]; Right to Life Michigan Educational Fund; and Baptists for Life.<ref name="IP_030116">{{cite news |last1= Docksai |first1=Rick |title= School Choice, But Much More: Making Sense of DeVos Family Philanthropy |url= http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2016/3/1/school-choice-but-much-more-making-sense-of-devos-family-phi.html |accessdate= February 4, 2017 |work= [[Inside Philanthropy]] |date= March 1, 2016}}</ref><ref name="MJ_011717"/><ref name="DMT"/><ref name="HuffPo_012417">{{cite news |last1= Klein |first1= Rebecca |title= Speaker at Group Supported By Betsy DeVos Says Hitler Was Good at Reaching Children |url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/betsy-devos-student-statesmanship-institute_us_58866464e4b070d8cad498d4 |accessdate= February 4, 2017 |publisher= Huffington Post |date= January 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name="DB_011717">{{cite news |last1=Michaelson |first1=Jay |title= Betsy DeVos, Trump's Education Pick, Could Make Life Hell for LGBT Youth |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/17/trump-s-education-pick-betsy-devos-could-wreck-lgbt-protections.html |accessdate= February 4, 2017 |publisher=[[Daily Beast]] |date= January 17, 2017}}</ref> With respect to educational-focused donations, the foundation from 1999 to 2014 supported private Christian schools (at least $8.6&nbsp;million), charter schools ($5.2&nbsp;million), and public schools ($59,750).<ref name="CP_011817"/> Specific donations included $2.39&nbsp;million to the Grand Rapids Christian High School Association, $652,000 to the Ada Christian School, and $458,000 to Holland Christian Schools.<ref name="MJ_011717"/><ref name="CP_011817"/> @@ -183,5 +182,5 @@ ==== Detroit charter school system ==== -DeVos has been an advocate for the Detroit [[charter school]] system. Douglas N. Harris, professor of economics at [[Tulane University]], wrote in a 2016 ''The New York Times'' op-ed that DeVos was partly responsible for "what even charter advocates acknowledge is the biggest school reform disaster in the country". In the [[National Assessment of Educational Progress]], Detroit had the lowest reading and mathematics scores "by far" over any city participating in the evaluation. According to Harris, she designed a system with no oversight in which schools that do poorly can continue to enroll students.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/25/opinion/betsy-devos-and-the-wrong-way-to-fix-schools.html|title=Betsy DeVos and the Wrong Way to Fix Schools|last=Harris|first=Douglas N.|date=November 25, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref> +DeVos has been an advocate for the Detroit [[charter school]] system. Douglas N. Harris, professor of economics at [[Tulane University]], wrote in a 2016 ''The New York Times'' [[op-ed]] that DeVos was partly responsible for "what even charter advocates acknowledge is the biggest school reform disaster in the country". In the [[National Assessment of Educational Progress]], Detroit had the lowest reading and mathematics scores "by far" over any city participating in the evaluation. According to Harris, she designed a system with no oversight in which schools that do poorly can continue to enroll students.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/25/opinion/betsy-devos-and-the-wrong-way-to-fix-schools.html|title=Betsy DeVos and the Wrong Way to Fix Schools|last=Harris|first=Douglas N.|date=November 25, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref> [[Ramesh Ponnuru]] of ''[[National Review]]'' argued that Harris overstates the failure of charter schools in Detroit. According to Ponnuru, the study referenced by Harris, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, did "not sound nearly as helpful to Harris's case as he suggests". Ponnuru pointed out that the study says "some 47 percent of charter schools in Detroit significantly outperform[ed] traditional public schools in reading and 49 percent of charters significantly outperforming traditionals on math. Only one percent of charters were significantly outperformed by traditional public schools in reading and only 7 percent on math."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/442522/devos-and-detroits-charter-schools|title=DeVos and Detroit's Charter Schools|newspaper=National Review|access-date=February 6, 2017|language=en}}</ref> Also defending DeVos's record in Michigan, [[Jay P. Greene]], professor of education policy at the [[University of Arkansas]], argued that Harris's ''The New York Times'' article misled readers on the evidence and "falsely claimed that Detroit has failed to close failing charter schools", noting that Detroit has closed more charters than Louisiana, a state Harris cites as a model for charter school legislation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.educationnext.org/when-evidence-and-science-are-really-just-assumptions-and-ideology/ |title=When Evidence and Science are Really Just Assumptions and Ideology | first1=Jay | last1=Greene |date=December 6, 2016|newspaper=Education Next|author-link1=Jay P. Greene}}</ref> @@ -200,9 +199,9 @@ ==== Personal ==== -[[File:Dick and Betsy DeVos.jpg|thumb|Dick and Betsy DeVos at the October 10, 2006 gubernatorial debate in Grand Rapids, Michigan.]] +[[File:Dick and Betsy DeVos.jpg|thumb|Dick and Betsy DeVos at the October 10, 2006 gubernatorial debate in Grand Rapids, Michigan]] The DeVos family is one of Michigan's wealthiest.<ref name="MLive" /> Betsy DeVos's husband, [[Dick DeVos|Richard Marvin "Dick" DeVos Jr.]], is a multi-billionaire heir to the [[Amway]] fortune who ran Amway's parent company, [[Alticor]], from 1993 to 2002. Dick DeVos is a major donor to conservative political campaigns and social causes,<ref name="USAT1">{{cite news|last1=Schaefer|first1=Jim|title=Blackwater founder comes under fire|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-10-08-blackwater-prince_N.htm|accessdate=December 21, 2016|publisher=USA Today|date=October 9, 2007}}</ref><ref name="BMJ1">{{cite news |title=Transcript |url=https://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10192007/transcript4.html |accessdate= December 21, 2016 |publisher= Bill Moyers Journal |date= October 19, 2007}}</ref><ref name="GRP1">{{cite news |title= Thank you, Betsy DeVos, for leading GOP charge against Dave Agema |url= http://www.mlive.com/opinion/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/01/thank_you_betsy_devos_for_lead.html |accessdate= December 21, 2016 |publisher= The Grand Rapids Press |date= January 28, 2014}}</ref> and was the 2006 Republican nominee for [[Michigan gubernatorial election, 2006|Governor of Michigan]].<ref name="blackwater" /><ref name="decides against" /> They married in 1979, and have four grown children: Rick, Elissa, Andrea, and Ryan.<ref name = Politico17>{{cite web|url = https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/betsy-dick-devos-family-amway-michigan-politics-religion-214631|title = How Betsy DeVos Used God and Amway to Take Over Michigan Politics|last = Stanton|first = Zach|date = January 15, 2017|accessdate = September 12, 2018|website = [[Politico]]}}</ref><ref name="Windsor" /> Rick works for the Windquest Group<ref>[http://windquest.com/portfolio/ Windquest Group] website</ref> as a consultant on urban development.<ref name = <ref name="RickBio">{{cite web |last=Wozniak |first=Curt |title=How I Spent My Summer Vacation |url=http://www.grmag.com/features/11-03/11-03.htm |accessdate=July 8, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020000652/http://www.grmag.com/features/11-03/11-03.htm |archivedate=October 20, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Dick's father, [[Richard DeVos|Richard Marvin DeVos Sr.]], co-founded Amway and is also the owner of the [[Orlando Magic]] NBA basketball team. Richard DeVos was listed by ''[[Forbes]]'' in 2016 as having a net worth of $5.1&nbsp;billion, making him America's 88th wealthiest individual.<ref name="MLive" /><ref name="Forbes88">[https://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/#1e36d787410c Forbes 400], No. 88 [https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-devos/ Richard DeVos & family], ''Forbes'', retrieved January 4, 2017</ref> -Betsy DeVos's brother, [[Erik Prince]], a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, is the founder of [[Academi|Blackwater USA]], a [[private military company|private military]] services contractor.<ref name="blackwater"/><ref name="Forbes_122611">{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Laurie|title=The Ultra-Rich, Ultra-Conservative DeVos Family|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriebennett/2011/12/26/the-ultra-rich-ultra-conservative-devos-family/#40f09ac52c86|accessdate=January 4, 2017|publisher=[[Forbes]]|date=December 26, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Guardian_112316">{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=David|title=Betsy DeVos, billionaire philanthropist, picked as Trump education secretary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/23/betsy-devos-education-secretary-trump-administration |accessdate=January 4, 2016|publisher=The Guardian|date=November 23, 2016}}</ref> -In August 2018, an unknown vandal untied DeVos's $40 million yacht that had been moored at a marina on Lake Erie, causing it to sustain $10,000 in damages.<ref name=yacht>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2018/07/26/someone-untied-betsy-devoss-yacht-in-ohio-damage-ensued/ Someone untied Betsy DeVos’s yacht in Ohio. Damage ensued], ''[[Washington Post]]'', Moriah Balingit, July 26, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> The 163 foot long vessel is just one of 10 yachts owned by her family, which has a net worth of $5.3 billion.<ref>[https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/07/betsy-devos-yacht-damage Boats Was Set Free in Lake Erie], ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'', Hilary Weaver, July 26, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> The craft is registered in the Cayman Islands, so is not subject to state property tax.<ref>[Betsy DeVos' 163-foot yacht set adrift and damaged while docked in Ohio marina], ''[[New York Daily News]]'', Denis Slattery, July 26, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref><ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/betsy-devos-cayman-islands-taxes-yacht-flag-foreign-donald-trump-america-1061960 WHY DOES BETSY DEVOS’S FAMILY YACHT FLY A FOREIGN FLAG? DONALD TRUMP’S ‘AMERICA FIRST’ ADMINISTRATION AND THE CAYMAN ISLANDS], ''[[Newsweek]]'', David Sirota, August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> +Betsy DeVos's brother, [[Erik Prince]], a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, is the founder of [[Academi|Blackwater USA]], a [[private military company|private military]] services contractor.<ref name="blackwater"/><ref name="Forbes_122611">{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Laurie|title=The Ultra-Rich, Ultra-Conservative DeVos Family|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriebennett/2011/12/26/the-ultra-rich-ultra-conservative-devos-family/#40f09ac52c86|accessdate=January 4, 2017|publisher=[[Forbes]]|date=December 26, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Guardian_112316">{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=David|title=Betsy DeVos, billionaire philanthropist, picked as Trump education secretary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/23/betsy-devos-education-secretary-trump-administration |accessdate=January 4, 2016|publisher=The Guardian|date=November 23, 2016}}</ref> +In August 2018, an unknown vandal untied DeVos's $40 million yacht that had been moored at a marina on Lake Erie, causing it to sustain $10,000 in damages.<ref name=yacht>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2018/07/26/someone-untied-betsy-devoss-yacht-in-ohio-damage-ensued/ Someone untied Betsy DeVos’s yacht in Ohio. Damage ensued], ''[[Washington Post]]'', Moriah Balingit, July 26, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> The {{Convert|163|ft|m|-long|adj=mid}} vessel is just one of ten yachts owned by her family, which has a net worth of $5.3 billion.<ref>[https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/07/betsy-devos-yacht-damage Boats Was Set Free in Lake Erie], ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'', Hilary Weaver, July 26, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> The craft is registered in the Cayman Islands, so is not subject to state property tax.<ref>[Betsy DeVos' 163-foot yacht set adrift and damaged while docked in Ohio marina], ''[[New York Daily News]]'', Denis Slattery, July 26, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref><ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/betsy-devos-cayman-islands-taxes-yacht-flag-foreign-donald-trump-america-1061960 WHY DOES BETSY DEVOS’S FAMILY YACHT FLY A FOREIGN FLAG? DONALD TRUMP’S ‘AMERICA FIRST’ ADMINISTRATION AND THE CAYMAN ISLANDS], ''[[Newsweek]]'', David Sirota, August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> == See also == '