In an unusual move, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has been given U.S. Marshal Guards to protect her from angry protesters. She is the only cabinet secretary afforded such security following a heated encounter with those against the government head.
U.S. Marshals have been DeVos' security detail since Monday, Feb. 13, CNN reported. The agency's spokesperson Lynzey Donahue said that it was a necessary move and a direct result of the secretary's encounter at the Jefferson Middle School Academy in Washington on Feb 10.
Protesters were arrested after they blocked DeVos from entering the school premises. Authorities also looked into assault allegations against the secretary, but the protest was generally considered as peaceful.
U.S. Marshals have not rendered cabinet security since 2009 when the agency protected the then-cabinet secretary of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Another spokesperson, Drew J. Wade, told Politico that the Attorney General approved the security detail for DeVos.
Previous Education secretaries were provided a small security detail by the department itself. It's still unclear how long this arrangement with the U.S. Marshals would last. It's also not clear which department is spending for this improved security.
Following the protest at the Washington middle school, DeVos released a statement saying she will not be deterred by similar incidents. "No school door in America will be blocked from those seeking to help our nation's school children," DeVos said, per Associated Press.
Former Education secretary Arne Duncan, however, criticized the move to give DeVos U.S. Marshal guards as a "waste of taxpayers' money," according to the Chicago Tribune. Duncan said during his time, he entrusted his life among the small security detail the Department of Education provided. He believed them to be top-notch professionals who were the best at their jobs.
"A couple protesters? That's part of the job. You embrace that," Duncan said. He also reiterated that government leaders have to learn to work outside their comfort zone and deal with different people as public servants.
