By aniketbanerjee .
Who is Linda McMahon?
You might know Linda McMahon from her leadership in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where she played a crucial role in turning it into a billion-dollar industry. She also served as the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration for nearly two years during President Trump’s first term.
However, McMahon’s background in education is limited. She spent about a year on Connecticut’s State Board of Education and has not extensively shared her views on education policy until recently. In January, she emphasised her support for expanding school choice and career and technical education opportunities for students.
If confirmed, she would oversee an agency that the administration has already taken steps to reduce.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
What Does the Education Secretary Do?
The Secretary of Education leads one of the smallest federal agencies, which is responsible for:
- Protecting the civil rights of students with disabilities,
- Managing the federal student loan portfolio,
- Distributing billions of dollars to schools serving low-income students, among other responsibilities.
What Happened at the Confirmation Hearing?
During Thursday’s Senate Education Committee hearing, McMahon criticised the current state of public education, calling it a “failing system.” She pledged to “redirect” the Education Department, focusing more on investing in teachers rather than Washington bureaucrats.
The hearing turned tense at times, with protesters interrupting proceedings. Democratic senators pressed McMahon on the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education.
Rather than being a discussion about McMahon’s qualifications, the hearing became a referendum on the White House’s policies regarding the department’s future.
The Plan to Eliminate the Education Department
Before McMahon even outlined her vision, the White House had already signalled its intention to eliminate the department. It planned to shut down programs that weren’t legally protected and had already begun cutting departmental staff and initiatives.
- Can the Department Be Shut Down by Executive Action?
No, the Department of Education was established by Congress in 1979 and can only be dismantled through legislative action. - Would This Affect School Funding?
Many senators raised concerns about funding cuts to K-12 programs, including:- Title I (for low-income students),
- IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).
With a narrow Republican majority in Congress, it’s unclear whether there are enough votes to dismantle the department. Past Republican attempts to do so have failed.
Ongoing Staff Cuts at the Department
Cuts are already underway:
- 60 new federal employees received termination notices this week.
- Last week, dozens of employees were placed on paid administrative leave, reportedly due to an executive order targeting diversity programs.
Currently, the Education Department has about 4,200 employees, making it one of the smallest federal agencies.
School Choice Debate
McMahon was also questioned about her stance on school choice—whether families should be allowed to use public funds to send their children to private or religious schools.
While federal policy currently does little to promote school choice, the Trump administration wants to change that.
McMahon strongly supported expanding school choice, saying:
“Parents should be able to say, ‘My school is failing my child, and I want a better option.’ Whether through education savings accounts, vouchers, charter schools, or different public school options, parents should have choices.”
Republicans often point to school choice as a solution for learning loss post-pandemic.
However, research on the effectiveness of school choice is mixed. Studies show that:
- Math and reading scores are still below pre-pandemic levels, according to The Nation’s Report Card and The Education Recovery Scorecard.
- Only one state (Alabama) improved fourth-grade math scores beyond 2019 levels, and only Louisiana did so for reading.
During Trump’s first term, the administration proposed a $5 billion federal tax credit to help parents pay for private schools. Republicans may push for this again in 2025.
However, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) pointed out that school choice isn’t viable in rural areas where there are no alternative schools. She asked McMahon:
“Wouldn’t your primary role as Education Secretary be to support and strengthen public schools?”
McMahon responded:
“Absolutely. Public schools are the foundation of our education system and have been since our nation’s founding.”
Currently, 50 million children attend public schools, while 4.7 million are in private schools.
Research Funding Cuts
On Monday, NPR reported that Elon Musk’s Government Efficiency Department (DOGE) had announced significant funding cuts to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), which oversees education research.
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) questioned these cuts, citing a former teacher in Maine who had used these research grants to develop effective tutoring models.
“With declining math and reading scores, shouldn’t the Education Department continue gathering data and evaluating results instead of shutting down critical research programs?”
