On March 3, 2025, Linda McMahon was confirmed as the new U.S. Secretary of Education, a development that represents a turning point in the country’s education policy environment. The Trump administration and former WWE executive ally won the job with a 51-45 party-line vote, taking a position traditionally held by career educators and politicians. Her appointment is a dramatic departure from the administration’s recent stance on public education, with McMahon appointed to oversee a department that President Trump has frequently promised to destroy.
A Businesswoman in the Education Sector
McMahon, 76, is perhaps most recognized for serving as CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and head of the Small Business Administration (SBA) under Trump’s first term.
But her direct experience in education is limited—she once briefly served on Connecticut’s State Board of Education for one year. Despite these reservations, McMahon has supported Trump’s goal of “taking education back to the states.” During her confirmation hearing, she implied that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and federal financing are two separate entities, and that abolishing the agency would not directly affect financial aid to schools. Abolishing the department, however, would need Congressional action and therefore poses a contentious and potentially long-fought battle. A Controversial Agenda: DEI Rollbacks and School Choice
An avid supporter of school choice, McMahon favours increasing charter schools, private school vouchers, and homeschooling opportunities, mirroring Trump’s larger agenda of decreasing federal control in education. She’s on message with the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank she once chaired, which has promoted “parental rights in education” and ending what it describes as “political indoctrination” within schools.
Among McMahon’s initial high-profile tasks will be implementing the administration’s order that schools and colleges eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs by February 28, 2025, or else forfeit federal funding. The action has prompted loud opposition from teachers, civil rights groups, and state officials who claim such programs are necessary to create diverse learning environments.
Federal Oversight and Funding for Education into the Future
The Education Department, which was created in 1979, is responsible for disbursing money to public schools as well as managing a $1.6 trillion portfolio of federal student loans.
Also, the administration has already begun to consolidate the department’s functions. Reports indicate that McMahon has been told to reduce its staff by a considerable amount, a move that may influence research activities, tracking of student progress data, and monitoring state compliance with federal education legislation.
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