President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE on Wednesday praised Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Elizabeth (Betsy) Dee DeVosFormer DeVos chief of staff joins anti-Trump group Ex-Pence aide throws support behind Biden, citing Trump's virus response OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' MORE for a “really exceptional” tenure so far while he signed an executive order directing her department to examine the federal government's authority over schools.

“I’m very proud,” Trump said at the White House. “She’s caught on — you wouldn’t believe it — all of the great things I’m hearing about you, Betsy.”

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The order directs the Department of Education to “determine where the Federal Government has unlawfully overstepped state and local control” on K-12 education policies.

Vice President Pence had to break a tie vote in the Senate over DeVos's confirmation after a pair of Republicans joined Democrats in opposing her, the first time in U.S. history that a Cabinet nominee’s confirmation was decided by a vice president’s tie-breaking vote.

Trump said in February that DeVos suffered “a very unfair” trial during her confirmation hearings. He added her work at Education would make America’s children the “real winner.”