Senate to Vote on Linda McMahon for Education Secretary/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Senate will vote Monday on whether to confirm Linda McMahon as the U.S. Secretary of Education, a position at the center of President Donald Trump’s push to dismantle the department. McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment and a major Trump ally, faces opposition due to her lack of experience in education policy. If confirmed, she will be tasked with overseeing the department while simultaneously working toward its dissolution, aligning with Trump’s long-standing goal of transferring education oversight to the states.
Quick Look: Linda McMahon’s Confirmation Vote
- Senate Vote: McMahon’s confirmation will determine the future leadership of the Education Department.
- Trump’s Goal: The president has pledged to shut down the department, leaving McMahon to oversee its reduction.
- Policy Stance: McMahon has promised to maintain key funding for low-income students but supports shifting responsibilities to other agencies.
- Opposition Concerns: Critics argue McMahon lacks experience and worry about cuts to federal education programs.
- Education Overhaul: The Trump administration has already begun eliminating contracts and reducing staff.
- Potential Executive Order: The White House may direct the department to cut its operations as much as legally possible.
- GOP Support: Many Republicans back McMahon, seeing her as a business-minded leader who will reform the agency.
Senate to Vote on Linda McMahon for Education Secretary
Deep Look: McMahon’s Role in Trump’s Education Agenda
The Senate is set to vote Monday on Linda McMahon’s confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Education, a pivotal moment in President Donald Trump’s efforts to shrink the federal government’s role in education. McMahon, a billionaire and former WWE executive, has been a close Trump ally, previously leading the Small Business Administration during his first term. Now, she faces a complex challenge: overseeing the Education Department while simultaneously working toward its elimination.
A Controversial Pick
McMahon’s nomination has sparked debate due to her lack of traditional education leadership experience. While she served on Connecticut’s state board of education and has been a trustee at Sacred Heart University, she has no background in K-12 or higher education policymaking. Supporters argue that her business acumen makes her an effective choice to manage the department’s transition, while critics warn she lacks the qualifications to handle the role.
Trump’s Push to Dismantle the Department
The Education Department, created in 1979, primarily administers funding to public schools and manages the federal student loan program. However, Trump has frequently criticized it as a hub for liberal policies and bureaucratic inefficiency. During his campaign, he vowed to shut it down and transfer its responsibilities to state governments.
While McMahon has distanced herself from Trump’s harsh rhetoric, she has suggested that certain federal education functions—such as disability rights enforcement—could be transferred to other agencies. At her confirmation hearing, she reassured lawmakers that she would uphold critical funding for low-income schools and federal student aid programs.
Executive Order Could Accelerate Cuts
The Trump administration has already begun dismantling parts of the department. Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has terminated numerous contracts it deemed unnecessary, including funding for education research. The administration has also significantly reduced the workforce, dismissing employees involved in what it labeled “woke” initiatives.
The White House is reportedly considering an executive order that would direct the education secretary to downsize the department as much as legally possible while urging Congress to pass legislation to shut it down completely. Some of McMahon’s allies had advised the administration to delay the order until after her confirmation to avoid political backlash.
Senate Divisions and the Road Ahead
Republicans largely support McMahon’s nomination, seeing her as a reformer who will rein in what they view as an overreaching agency. However, Democrats and education advocates have voiced strong opposition, arguing that her confirmation could lead to devastating cuts in public education funding.
With Trump’s broader education agenda taking shape, McMahon’s confirmation would mark a significant step toward reshaping federal oversight of schools. Whether she succeeds in winding down the department—or encounters resistance from Congress and the courts—will be closely watched in the months ahead.
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