President Donald Trump, who has previously stated that he doesn’t need his annual $400,000 presidential salary, will be donating his second quarter earnings to the Department of Education for a kids’ STEM-focused camp.
According to a press release from the department, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos accepted Trump’s donation of $100,000 during Wednesday’s White House press briefing, saying that Trump’s donation is indicative of his commitment to education reform.
“He and I have had many conversations about how best to put students’ needs first and to ensure we are setting them up for a lifetime of success. There is much work to be done, but we are certainly on the right track thanks to the president’s leadership,” DeVos said during the briefing.
Trump previously donated his first quarter salary of $78,333.32 to the National Park Service. However, despite these donations, Trump’s proposed 2018 budget includes cuts to both entities. The Education Department would lose $9.2 billion, while the Interior Department, which encompasses the parks service, would see a loss of $1.6 billion.
During her acceptance of Trump’s donation, DeVos also referenced the summer reading event she hosted yesterday with Trump’s adviser and daughter Ivanka Trump. As part of their joint effort to encourage girls to get involved in STEM-related fields, DeVos and Trump read to girls at the Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C., and watched girls conduct science experiments, according to the Washington Post.
“Today’s and tomorrow’s economy requires engaged students, boys and girls, are prepared for STEM careers. That’s why we have decided to use the president’s 2nd quarter salary to host a STEM-focused camp for students at the Department of Education,” DeVos said. “We want to encourage as many children as possible to explore STEM fields in the hope that many develop a passion for these fields.”
