Today, Nicholas Kent was sworn in after the United States Senate voted to confirm him as the 15th Under Secretary of Education. In this role, Under Secretary Kent will serve alongside U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to implement President Trump’s historic agenda to reform higher education.
“Nicholas Kent’s technical expertise and vast experience in higher education will serve as an invaluable asset to the Department of Education team,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Not only will he work to fulfill President Trump’s vision for accreditation, accountability reforms, and more, but he will also be a great benefit to current and aspiring postsecondary students, faculty, and staff. I look forward to serving alongside Nicholas as we continue to strengthen higher education and brighten America’s future.”
“I want to thank President Trump and Secretary McMahon for their trust and confidence in me,” said Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent. “It’s an honor to serve at a time when higher education faces both serious challenges and real opportunities. Now is the time to disrupt the status quo—by embracing alternatives to the traditional college experience, cutting costs, reducing federal bureaucracy, and holding every institution accountable for results. That starts with aligning education to the needs of today’s workforce and ensuring all Americans—regardless of background—can climb the economic ladder through hard work. Rising student loan debt, eroding public trust, a lack of viewpoint diversity, inadequate campus safety, and poor outcomes are urgent problems that demand bold action. I look forward to working with students, families, institutions, employers, and policymakers to deliver meaningful reforms that make higher education work better for today’s learners and tomorrow’s economy.”
As Under Secretary, Kent will oversee all policies, programs, and activities related to postsecondary education, vocational and adult education, and federal student aid. His portfolio includes the implementation of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which delivers long-overdue reforms to lower the cost of higher education, simplifies student loan repayment, creates a Workforce Pell Grant, and will hold colleges and universities accountable if their programs have low earnings outcomes.
About Under Secretary Kent:
Nicholas Kent will serve as the 15th Under Secretary of Education after serving as Deputy Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to serving in the Youngkin Administration, Kent was the Chief Policy Officer at Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU), a national higher education trade association. Before joining CECU, he was the Director of Policy, Planning, and Research at the DC office of the State Superintendent of Education.