On Feb. 7, 2017, Vice President Mike Pence cast a tiebreaking vote in the Senate to confirm Betsy DeVos as U.S. education secretary.

In response, UFT President Michael Mulgrew issued the following statement:

This process made clear to parents and teachers across the country what billionaire Betsy DeVos is all about. She has contempt for public education and wants to dismantle neighborhood public schools. We know the DeVos playbook. Now we have to stand together and work to protect what we value — our public schools.