The Trump administration named 10 new Education Department appointees Thursday, four of whom have previously worked with the America First Policy Institute, a pro-Trump think tank formed in 2021 as the president ended his first term in office.
Education secretary nominee Linda McMahon was a co-founder of AFPI and served as the group’s president and CEO until she was selected to head the department.
Thursday’s announcement offers more insight into who will help carry out Trump’s education agenda. Until McMahon and Deputy Secretary–designate Penny Schwinn are confirmed by the Senate, a veteran agency official, Denise Carter, will serve as acting secretary.
The newest cohort of appointees includes:
- Rachel Oglesby, a former AFPI chief state action officer, as chief of staff.
- Jonathan Pidluzny, AFPI’s former director of higher education reform, as deputy chief of staff for policy and programs.
- Virginia “Chase” Forrester, former AFPI chief events officer, as deputy chief of staff for operations.
- Craig Trainor, a former congressional senior special counsel and AFPI senior litigation counsel, as deputy assistant secretary for policy in the Office for Civil Rights. (During his time at AFPI, Trainor worked under Pam Bondi, whom Trump has nominated as his attorney general.)
- Steve Warzoha as White House liaison.
- Tom Wheeler as principal deputy general counsel.
- Madi Biedermann as deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Communications and Outreach.
- Candice Jackson, who served in the first Trump administration, as deputy general counsel.
- Joshua Kleinfeld as deputy general counsel.
- Hannah Ruth Earl as director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
