President Bush last week nominated Troy R. Justesen to the Department of Education’s top job overseeing vocational education, a program which the administration has unsuccessfully sought for several years to zero out of the federal budget.
The president on May 8 put forth Mr. Justesen to become assistant secretary for vocational and adult education. Mr. Justesen currently serves as the Education Department’s deputy assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services. A native of Utah, he has also worked in the White House as an associate director for the president’s domestic-policy council.
If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Justesen would succeed Susan K. Sclafani, who resigned in September. The vocational education post is currently held on an interim basis by Beto Gonzalez.
The Bush administration has angered some advocates of career and technical programs by proposing to eliminate the $1.3 billion annual budget for vocational education. The president has said that the money could be better spent in other areas, such as improving high schools. Congress, however, has several times rejected the administration’s plans.
