Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump's pick for education secretary, told lawmakers at her confirmation hearing Tuesday that she would not rule out defunding public schools, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Asked by Sen. Patty Murray of Washington whether she would commit to keeping funding intact for public schools, and not cutting a single penny from public education, DeVos sidestepped the question.
"I look forward, if confirmed, to working with you to talk about how we address the needs of all parents and all students and we acknowledge today that not all schools are working for the students that are assigned to them," she said. "I'm hopeful that we can work together to find common ground in ways that we can solve those issues and empower parents to make choices on behalf of their children that are right for them."
DeVos, a billionaire Republican fundraiser and activist from Michigan, has constantly pushed for greater school choice and unregulated charter school expansion. She has also backed school vouchers, a subject her nonprofit organization American Federal for Children gave Trump advice on.
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