From Politico today: http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-education/2017/05/23/budget-day-what-to-watch-220460 <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cacd2f89c4419807a09371ffcf6c82b1affdd19505977c4d33a08b0f8409049c8c59f075d84dddcb8ef97b6b2cea9ac5> > DEVOS FORMS COMMITTEE TO REORGANIZE, SHRINK EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: The Trump administration has formed a 15-person committee at the Education Department to make recommendations about how it should reorganize and cut the agency's workforce in coming years. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' chief of staff, Joshua Venable, outlined the committee's membership and responsibilities in a memo <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=914111e53afb4e60b13fdfe7ba546359bd078dac68de7276f57575f8ba79464e955917ff82ac9b2b855b7004e4854b1c> to senior leadership obtained by POLITICO. > > - The goal is is to come up with ways to "improve the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability" of the Education Department, according to Venable's memo. Participants will develop ways to "reduce redundancy, maximize employee and organizational efficiency and reduce workforce, when appropriate," he wrote. > > - The committee a includes a mix of political appointees and career employees. It will be co-chaired by Robert Eitel <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=914111e53afb4e6007d635be783c55b516dae948a9b68bf7b882b05816e2480ab8837d3a7d3c4ec92e3bd18792337126>, a former for-profit college executive who is now senior counselor to DeVos, and Joe Conaty, a long-time career official who is currently the acting deputy secretary. > > - Other members of the panel: Sue Betka, deputy director for administration and policy, Institute of Education Sciences; Jason Botel <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=914111e53afb4e60846c329d8bc0639f2b88b39190717bb099b644dca2cc45484dfcaf763bfe75c0601d7bda6a898825>, acting assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education; Denise Carter, deputy assistant secretary for management; Holly Ham, assistant secretary for management; Candice Jackson <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=914111e53afb4e60a80326023c1643c7b72d79a1f3fccc41c7019d78cfd820b4d73ea6de3d1b0ad4a84b7d3f8e2190ca>, acting assistant secretary for civil rights; Ebony Lee, deputy chief of staff for policy; Lynn Mahaffie, acting assistant secretary for postsecondary education; James Manning, acting undersecretary of education; Elizabeth McFadden, deputy general counsel for ethics, legislative counsel, and regulatory services; Erica Navarro, director of the budget service; Phil Rosenfelt <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=cacd2f89c4419807642532bb50f61c2ed4c7716b54884b796f2d56154551e411de04e0dcab9099c5743174cf08c4760c>, acting general counsel and deputy general counsel for program service; Ruth Ryder, acting assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services; and Matthew Sessa, deputy chief operating officer, Federal Student Aid. > > - Committee members have been directed to produce a report by June 30 that includes a "high level draft" strategic plan to overhaul the Education Department, a proposal to "maximize employee performance" and "initial areas for workforce reduction." More comprehensive plans are due by September.