Education Department's No. 2 Position Bid Withdrawn by Penny Schwinn
Penny Schwinn, who was nominated by President Donald Trump in January to serve as deputy under Education Secretary Linda McMahon, has announced her withdrawal from consideration for the number two position in the US Department of Education.
Schwinn's nomination has faced turbulence since its inception, with concerns about her alignment with Trump and her past comments on battles regarding gender and race in classrooms alienating some conservative lawmakers. The U.S. Senate committee sent her nomination to the full chamber for approval in late June, but it has since stalled.
Schwinn faced scrutiny over her roles in education-related businesses, with numerous connections to such enterprises. In March, her business partner removed her from the enterprise, and the company was dissolved in late May. Schwinn pledged to resign from board memberships and divest herself of some corporate ownership stakes if confirmed.
Republicans pressed Schwinn for her commitment to Trump's social policy agenda during her confirmation hearing. However, Schwinn vowed to lawmakers that she was committed to the president's vision.
Some conservatives had chafed at Schwinn's appointment, unsatisfied with how she handled COVID-19 protocols and battles over instruction about gender and race during her tenure in Tennessee. Schwinn, in a 2023 interview with The 74, criticized culture war battles over gender and race instruction as "extraneous politics."
The Education Department has been aggressively pursuing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and policies, as well as investigations and policy memos regarding transgender students' sports participation. This pursuit has been a point of contention for some conservatives.
Trump has ordered McMahon to "facilitate" the agency's closure, and the Education Department has shed about half its staff under Trump's administration. Despite these challenges, Schwinn awaited a hearing and vote on her nomination while appearing alongside McMahon at a March event and meeting privately with state education chiefs.
Anna Edwards, chief advocacy officer for the consulting firm Whiteboard Advisors, stated that Schwinn would serve as a senior adviser and chief strategist in the Education Department, roles that don't require Senate confirmation. However, there was concern that Schwinn would not clear the necessary votes in the Senate due to her record and past comments.
Schwinn's withdrawal from consideration leaves the Education Department without a clear second-in-command as it navigates ongoing challenges and controversies under the Trump administration.
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