(Photo: Carolyn Kaster / AP)

Lansing — President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he intends to appoint west Michigan GOP mega donor and philanthropist Betsy DeVos to be his education secretary, putting an ardent supporter of school choice in charge of the nation’s education policy. On Wednesday, the president-elect announced Betsy DeVos would be his choice for the post at head of the Department of Education, citing her record as a businessperson, philanthropist and advocate for education reform. “Under her leadership we will reform the U.S. education system and break the bureaucracy that is holding our children back so that we can deliver world-class education and school choice to all families.”

DeVos, of Grand Rapids, Mich., is the chairwoman of Windquest Group, a privately held investment firm, and has been active in politics for more than 35 years. DeVos and her husband are major GOP donors who during the 2016 cycle gave a total of $2.7 million to the GOP and to Republican candidates and political action committees; they made no donations to Democrats, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics. I am hopeful that she will understand that ‘all kids’ includes both gay and especially transgender kids as well.”

White said DeVos has undergone an “evolution” on LGBT rights, attributing that to the Michigan Republican’s relationship with her long-time trusted advisor Greg McNeilly, who’s gay.
Former chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party Betsy DeVos is named as United States Secretary of Education.