- The Washington Times - Saturday, September 14, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris made another policy proposal already put forth by former President Donald Trump — the measure was an executive order he signed as president.

Ms. Harris announced on Friday during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania that she would cut college degree requirements for certain federal jobs if elected president.

“As president, I will get rid of the unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs to increase jobs for folks without a four-year degree,” Ms. Harris said during her speech in Wilkes-Barre.

The Trump campaign’s Trump War Room X account posted a clip of Ms. Harris’ remarks and responded, “Hey can I borrow your homework? I’ll just change a few things so nobody notices.”

The Washington Times has reached out to the Harris campaign for comment.

On June 26, 2020, Mr. Trump signed an executive order addressing this issue.  

The order at the time directed the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to revise qualifications for jobs with the U.S. government within half a year.

According to the order, the federal agency could suggest a minimum educational requirement “only when a minimum educational qualification is legally required to perform the duties of the position in the state or locality where those duties are to be performed.”

The order was a recommendation from the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, co-chaired by his elder daughter Ivanka Trump, which was created in 2018 and was put together to find ways to improve job training.

“This will ensure that we’re able to hire based on talent and expand our universe to qualified candidates and ensure a more equitable hiring process,” Ms. Trump said when her father signed the order.

“The federal government will no longer be narrowly focused on where you went to school, but the skills and talents that you bring to the job.”

States across the country followed suit including Colorado, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Utah.

This is not the first Trump policy Ms. Harris has promised she would push if elected.

Ms. Harris called to eliminate taxes on tips at a rally in Las Vegas on Aug. 10 — two months after Mr. Trump made the policy promise in the same city.

Mr. Trump’s running mate Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio made the proposal for a $5,000 child tax credit on Aug. 11 during an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Six days later, the Harris campaign included the agenda policy of a $6,000 child tax credit in her economic plan.

• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.

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