Top Student Aid Official in Department of Education Resigns

Ever since then-candidate Donald J. Trump first announced his candidacy back in 2015, he has pledged to clean up Washington, D.C. and end business as usual.

President Trump is not a politician, and believes that, for too long, our government has been run by special interest groups that seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the American people.

One of the major hurdles President Trump has in implementing his bold, conservative agenda is the fact that much of the federal government is filled with Obama holdovers, who vehemently oppose any efforts to return power back to the states.

Now, one Obama holdover, James Runcie, who serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Office of Federal Student Aid since being appointed by Obama in 2011, abruptly resigned from his position, and predictably blamed his new boss, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, for his decision to leave the government.

But the real reason seems to be totally different. This is great!

From The Washington Post:

The Education Department’s top student financial aid officer, a holdover from the Obama administration, quit the position Tuesday night and sent an email to his staff warning about brewing management problems he perceived within the agency.

Department spokeswoman Liz Hill said Runcie refused Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s request that he testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Thursday about the department’s handling of improper financial aid payments.

“Congress requested Mr. Runcie to testify and Mr. Runcie refused to appear. The Secretary directed Mr. Runcie to comply with the request of Congress and to answer questions regarding oversight within FSA and repeated issues concerning improper payments,” Hill said, in an email. “He chose to resign rather than face Congress.”

Under President Trump and Ms. DeVos, the Department of Education is set to see a major overhaul, with an emphasis on school choice and reforming how federal student loans are allocated.

DeVos’ views on education are at odds with individuals like Runcie. Liberals believe in federal control over education policy. They think they know better than local parents.

Ever since President Trump nominated Ms. DeVos, the left has viciously opposed her taking over the Department of Education due to her strong opposition to teacher’s unions and support for school choice.

If Runcie is unable to implement the policies outlined by the Trump administration then he should resign, but he shouldn’t blame his boss for his inability to do his job.

Maybe Congress should subpoena him to testify anyway!

What are your thoughts on another Obama holdover leaving the administration? Should he have left? Share your thoughts below! 

Mentioned in this article: