WASHINGTON – The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Jill Baesler,a longtime North Dakota schools chief,as assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education at the U.S. Department of Education,signaling a continued shift toward conservative education policies under the Biden administration. The confirmation comes amidst ongoing efforts to reshape the department’s structure and priorities, mirroring proposals outlined in the conservative policy agenda Project 2025.
Baesler, who served as North Dakota’s superintendent of public instruction since 2012, has publicly advocated for streamlining the federal Education Department, suggesting it disseminate its vast portfolio to other agencies. Last year, she authored an opinion piece detailing staff cuts at the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and the transfer of mental health services, presenting it as a potential model for the federal government. She also proposed relocating functions like civil rights enforcement and student loans to other Cabinet-level agencies, aligning with Project 2025 recommendations. The Trump administration has already begun implementing aspects of the Project 2025 agenda, particularly in K-12 education.
The confirmation follows Penny Schwinn‘s withdrawal from consideration for the department’s No. 2 position after conservative lawmakers raised concerns about her past statements regarding gender and race in classrooms. Schwinn now serves as a senior adviser and chief strategist within the department, a role not requiring Senate confirmation.
Alongside Baesler, the Senate also confirmed Kimberly Richey to oversee the agency’s office for civil rights, an office that has recently focused on enforcing the administration’s policies in K-12 schools and higher education. In a related move, Craig Trainor, who has led the office for civil rights in an interim capacity as the start of the Trump administration, was confirmed as an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Trainor has been a key figure in efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
