Rahm Emanuel on Government Ethics and Education Reform

AUSTIN, Texas – Rahm Emanuel, former White House Chief of Staff, has outlined a five-point plan aimed at enhancing government ethics, which he believes could benefit the 2028 Democratic nominee. Emanuel suggests that Democrats could adopt strategies from Republican-led states to improve the U.S. education system.

In an interview with Fox News Digital during the 2026 Texas Tribune Festival, Emanuel, who is considering a 2028 presidential run, emphasized the necessity of ‘five simple things’ to ensure public officials prioritize public service:

Across all three branches of government, ban all stock trading. Second, ban all participation in the prediction market. Third, implement mandatory retirement at age 75. Fourth, if net worth exceeds a million dollars, mandate a blind trust. Fifth, legally tighten foreign gifts, investments, and participation.

These measures aim to reinforce accountability and transparency in government. Emanuel, also a former mayor of Chicago, criticized both parties for their shortcomings in education.

He expressed concern about the current state of education, noting that Republicans have distanced themselves from public education while Democrats have moved away from accountability and standards.

Emanuel stated, Republicans have championed vouchers without accountability, while Democrats have failed to uphold educational standards. He acknowledged party mistakes, such as abandoning core curriculum and standards in 2012, which he believes have been detrimental to students.

Democrats’ departure from essential educational benchmarks has reportedly impacted children’s success, according to Emanuel. Despite criticizing the approach of ‘teaching to the tests,’ he did not advocate for eliminating tests but rather called for adjustments.

Addressing both parties, Emanuel accused Republicans of using funding mechanisms to disguise opposition to teachers’ unions. He emphasized a focus on tangible educational outcomes.

As a prospective presidential candidate, Emanuel advises examining education systems of states like Mississippi and Louisiana, which have shown improvement, regardless of political affiliation.

I’m interested in results. If there’s a successful model, I want to know how to scale it. We need solutions when 50% of our kids aren’t reading at grade level, and math scores are declining,

he asserted.

Emanuel acknowledges the challenge of entering the Democratic nomination race, with polls placing him outside the top 10 contenders. Vice President Kamala Harris leads with approximately 25% average support.

For further insights, contact Brian Flood, a media editor/reporter for FOX News Digital, at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter: @briansflood.