Jeff Brasie

In 2022 the Washington, D.C. based Heritage Foundation began to write a 900 plus page document known as Project 2025. In part, the thrust of this conservative organization’s document was to enhance presidential executive orders along with specific changes to the federal government’s structure.

Numerous times during the 2024 presidential campaign. candidate. Donald J. Trump was asked if he was aware of this document. He denied any knowledge.

Trump was elected and installed as president in January 2025. One of the Project 2025 directives was to dismantle the U. S. Department of Education (DOE). In March, Trump issued an executive order to indeed dismantle the department. The complete closure of the department is subject to approval by the U.S. Congress.

Concurrently, presidential consultant Elon Musk and the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency, began to eliminate federal workers and consultants across all government departments and agencies. Data notes the DOE staff reductions were by the thousands.

To lead the DOE, Trump appointed Linda E. McMahon as DOE secretary. Her most recent credentials have her as CEO of the World Wrestling Entertainment, a sporting venue with little relevance to the nation’s education.

It is not fully clear if the DOE is absolved, where and how the remaining staff would conduct numerous mandated DOE programs.

This past November the DOE turmoil even got more prevalent when McMahon, along with Trump’s support, stated the following advanced degreed education (master’s or doctorate) careers are no longer considered a profession, but rather advanced or graduate degreed:

· Nursing

· Physician assistants

· Physical therapist

· Audiologist

· Architects

· Accountants

· Educators

· Social workers

To the everyday consumer this may not sound like a big deal. However, sadly it is.

In particular if you review this list and note a significant number of these professions are in healthcare or direct patient or family care. With many of these categories there is already a personnel shortage and with many of these professions, an aging population base.

With my three decades plus in healthcare as a CEO, I will alone focus on nursing.

At Alpena Community College (ACC) the college has a long and rich history of educating LPNs and RNs. Many continue their education career to obtain master and doctorate degrees. In northeastern Michigan you will find women and men as nurse practitioners or heading hospital, clinic, or health organization’s departments. These individuals work in close concert with physicians, therapists, dietitians, pharmacists, and other deeply devoted and skilled healthcare providers.

At ACC Chanda Zbytowski, is director of the multi-site nursing program. Currently she has an MSN degree and is pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice. These are the credentials students, regulators, and related audiences demand.

Obtaining an advanced degree in nursing takes devotion, time, and a “bundle of money.”

According to a Forbes Magazine 2024 article, depending on in-state vs. out-of-state and public vs. private annual university, master and doctorate tuition and fee costs annually range from $18,000 upwards to $90,000. This does not reflect books, background checks, clothing, lab tests, travel, and dozens of other expenses.

With nursing or the other careers not listed by DOE as a profession, the ability to acquire student loans plunges downward from $50,000 annually with a maximum of $200,000 to an annual of $20,500 and maximum of $100,000.

To me it is more than the financial aspect. It is the market’s need, personal and family financial stress, and the absolute insult of stating nursing is not viewed as a profession.

I might add, my bride, Penny is a retired MSW, and I positively see social work as a profession.

As I previously stated the DOE closure and any and all actions by McMahon and Trump can and must be challenged.

Reach out to your U.S. Congressperson and Michigan’s two Senators.

You will find these names and contact information frequently listed in The Alpena News.

ACC President Don MacMaster sums up this whole mind boggling and insulting decision best by stating, “At Alpena Community College we consider nursing credentials to be professional degrees.”

Jeffrey D. Brasie is a retired health care CEO. He frequently writes feature stories and op-eds for various newspapers, magazines, and social media sites. He is an ACC graduate. As a Vietnam-era veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve. He served on the public affairs staff of the Secretary of the Navy. He grew up in Alpena and resides in suburban Detroit.