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Linda McMahon, a longtime CEO at World Wrestling Entertainment who worked during the first Trump administration, was selected by President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday to head the Education Department.
McMahon would be in charge of a department that Trump claimed he intended to “get rid” of as it presently stands and let each state “handle education” on its own, if the Senate confirms her.
Trump said in a statement that characterized McMahon as a “fierce advocate for Parents’ Rights” that.
“As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand ‘Choice’ to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best education decisions for their families.”
On February 23, 2018, Linda McMahon, the Small Business Administration’s then-administrator, visits the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbour, Maryland.
McMahon stated in her own statement that she was “committed to working tirelessly to ensure every student has access to a quality education.”
“I’ve witnessed the transformative power of education, both in the classroom and also in apprenticeship programs,” McMahon stated.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with students — educators — parents and communities to strengthen our educational system; ensuring every child regardless of their demographics is prepared for a bright future.”
Prior to the president-elect’s announcement, she attended the SpaceX Starship launch in Texas on Tuesday with Trump and Elon Musk, who was designated as a co-chair of a new “Department of Government Efficiency.”
The news that McMahon was Trump’s choice for education secretary was originally reported by CNN.
Co-chairing Trump’s presidential transition team is McMahon, 76. During his first term, she oversaw the Small Business Administration.
In 2019, she left her Cabinet-level position to become the president of the pro-Trump America First Action super PAC.
McMahon was on the Connecticut State Board of Education in 2009 before to joining the first Trump administration.
She left the board to run unsuccessfully for the state’s U.S. Senate seats in 2010 and 2012. During the 2024 campaign, McMahon was one of Trump’s biggest funders, giving $937,800 to his campaign and related joint fundraising committees and more over $20 million to the Make America Great Again Inc.
super PAC. She is wed to Vince McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment. The Office of Personnel Management reports that the Education Department employs over 13,000 people and has a $241.6 billion budget.
The Education Department has authorized the cancellation of $175 billion in student loan debt under the Biden administration.
With a new Title IX regulation that expands the scope of sex-based harassment in schools, the administration has also attempted to increase the civil rights protections for LGBTQ students.
A number of states have banned the regulation after contesting it. Trump’s choice drew harsh criticism from National Education Association President Becky Pringle.
In a statement, Pringle said that McMahon’s “only mission is to eliminate the Department of Education and.
Take away taxpayer dollars from public schools,” demonstrating that Donald Trump could not care less about the futures of our youngsters.
Trump stated throughout the campaign that he would repeal Title IX protections for transgender students and that he would abolish the Education Department.
In its current form. Additionally, he stated that he intends to issue an executive order that would withhold federal funds.
“From any school pushing transgender insanity, critical race theory, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content onto the shoulders of our children.”
In a Fox News opinion piece this year, McMahon attacked diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives, claiming that DEI rules were “irrelevant to training skilled workers” and that they “add costs and administrative burdens to all apprenticeship programs.”
Along with other former Trump administration officials, McMahon founded the conservative think tank America First Policy Institute in 2021, where she currently serves as its chair of the board.
Trump has stated that he intends to appoint other members of the group, such as former Georgia Representative Doug Collins for the position of secretary of veteran affairs and former.
New York Representative Lee Zeldin for the position of Environmental Protection Agency head. McMahon is the most recent member of Trump’s transition team to be appointed to the Cabinet.
He appointed Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, who is co-chairing his transition with McMahon, as his nominee for commerce secretary earlier Tuesday.