“Linda will leverage her decades of leadership experience and deep knowledge of both education and business to empower the next generation of American students and workers, making America the global leader in education,” Trump stated.
At 76, McMahon was initially seen as a top contender for commerce secretary; however, that position was ultimately filled by Wall Street investor Howard Lutnick.
Trump highlighted McMahon’s prior experience on the Connecticut Board of Education from 2009 to 2010 and her two terms on the board of trustees at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.
However, McMahon is not widely recognized for her expertise in education policy or practice. While her appointment received praise from some conservatives, others had hoped for a nominee with a more established record of addressing the cultural issues central to Trump’s campaign. Concerns also arose over how her selection came about.
“Treating the Department of Education as a consolation prize signals the low priority President Trump places on this issue,” said Michael Petrilli, president of the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute.
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-North Carolina), chair of the House Education Committee, expressed strong support for McMahon, describing her as principled and dedicated to the success and well-being of students. “She’s a fighter who will work tirelessly for students—not for the so-called elite institutions, teachers’ unions, or the federal bureaucracy,” Foxx said in a statement.
Jim Blew, a senior adviser to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos during Trump’s first term, expressed confidence in McMahon’s ability to address the agency’s challenges.
“What the department needs most right now is someone with a close connection to the president and strong managerial skills, and she has an outstanding reputation,” Blew said. “The department faces significant issues that require focused management.”
Responses from more liberal circles were mixed.
Within an hour of the announcement, the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers' union in the country, urged the Senate to reject Linda McMahon’s confirmation.
“By selecting Linda McMahon, Donald Trump is making it clear that he couldn’t care less about our students’ futures,” said NEA President Becky Pringle.
In contrast, Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union—a grassroots organization whose political arm endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president—expressed relief that the role was not going to a culture warrior. She voiced optimism, saying she is “hopeful” that McMahon will “protect and defend our children from being caught in the political crossfire” and focus on critical issues like improving literacy.
Linda McMahon is married to Vince McMahon, who led the wrestling empire they co-founded until stepping down earlier this year amid allegations of sexual abuse and trafficking, which he has denied.
The McMahons have faced other controversies as well. In October, they were sued by five anonymous plaintiffs who, as “ring boys” at WWE events decades ago, alleged that the McMahons were aware of sexual abuse by high-ranking WWE employees and failed to act to protect them.
Linda McMahon’s attorney, Laura Brevetti, stated that the McMahons are separated and dismissed the lawsuit as “baseless.”
Others considered for the education secretary role included Rep. Virginia Foxx, Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, and several Republican state school superintendents, all of whom have extensive experience in education policy.
During his first term, Trump gave limited attention to education issues. However, this year he campaigned aggressively on the topic, leading supporters to hope it will become a greater priority in a potential second term. Among his pledges: cutting federal funding for schools teaching critical race theory—often broadly interpreted to include discussions of systemic racism—and ending what he called "transgender insanity," including Biden administration rules prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity in schools.
Trump has also vowed to shut down the Education Department, though some conservatives argue a more feasible approach would be to leverage the agency to advance his education agenda. Eliminating the department would require congressional approval, a difficult feat given Senate rules requiring 60 votes. Additionally, Trump has renewed his promise to pursue a federal school voucher program, an initiative omitted from his 2017 tax package but one supporters hope will be prioritized this time.
While education policy is primarily determined by states and local school boards, the federal Education Department plays a significant role. For K-12 education, it manages programs such as the $18.4 billion Title I initiative, which provides funding to high-poverty schools, and the $15.5 billion program supporting education for students with disabilities. The department also oversees the $1.6 trillion federal student loan program and establishes rules for college participation.
The department is also responsible for enforcing civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in federally funded schools based on race, sex, and other factors. Under the Biden administration, this authority has been used to protect students from discrimination based on gender identity. Trump, however, is expected to take the opposite approach, potentially using the department’s power to restrict schools from allowing transgender girls and women to compete on women’s sports teams.
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