Linda McMahon Sworn in as Secretary of Education Amidst Plans to Restructure Department
Linda McMahon, previously known as the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), has officially been inaugurated as the new Secretary of Education under the administration of President Donald Trump. Her appointment arrives amidst President Trump’s stated intention to significantly overhaul, or even eliminate, the Department of Education during his tenure.
The Senate successfully confirmed McMahon for the top education post on Monday evening by a vote of 51-45. The vote fell largely along party lines. The confirmation represents the final step in a process that involved intensive scrutiny and debate.
Shortly after the vote, McMahon was formally sworn in and is slated to commence her official duties on Tuesday morning.
"I am deeply grateful to President Trump for his trust in me to serve in his Cabinet as Secretary of Education," McMahon stated in a prepared statement following her confirmation. "I am prepared to lead the Department in this transformational time and embrace the challenge to improve the education system for the more than 100 million children and college students who deserve better."
Her statement continued, "Education is the issue that determines our national success and prepares American workers to win the future. Every decision made at the Department will be driven by a commitment to support meaningful learning and empower our most important stakeholders: students, families, and teachers."
McMahon’s commitment to shifting the focus of education policy away from the federal level and towards state and local control was also emphasized. "We will empower states and districts to have more say in what is working on the ground for students instead of bureaucratic edicts from Washington, D.C.," she declared.
President Trump has been vocal about his vision to reduce the influence and scope of the Department of Education, and McMahon has publicly aligned herself with this position. In a letter addressed to Democratic lawmakers, she expressed her support for Trump’s stance.
"President Trump believes that the bureaucracy in Washington should be abolished so that we can return education to the states, where it belongs. I wholeheartedly support and agree with this mission," McMahon conveyed in her letter to members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) earlier in February.
McMahon’s background is primarily in the world of entertainment and business. Before entering the political arena, she served as the head of WWE, a company that she co-founded with her husband, Vince McMahon.
Her political career includes two unsuccessful bids for a Senate seat in Connecticut in 2010 and 2012. In both instances, she ran against and was defeated by Democratic nominees.
In addition to her roles in business and politics, McMahon has also served in the Trump administration as the administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) during Trump’s first term.
Her selection as Secretary of Education has elicited a range of responses. Supporters highlight her business acumen and her commitment to reforming the education system, while critics express concern over her lack of experience in education policy and her alignment with Trump’s agenda to significantly downsize the Department of Education.
The department she is slated to lead has experienced a significant increase in spending. Recent reports indicate that the department’s spending has increased by a significant percentage, despite intentions to downsize the agency. A new Doge-inspired initiative reveals that despite the downsizing initiative, the department’s spending has increased by 749%. This has raised questions about the direction and effectiveness of the department’s spending.
McMahon’s tenure as Secretary of Education is anticipated to be marked by significant changes and policy shifts. It remains to be seen how her leadership will impact the education landscape in the United States, particularly in light of President Trump’s vision for reducing the federal role in education and empowering states and local communities. It will also be important to see how McMahon balances the goal of downsizing the department with the growing demands of the education system. The increase in spending despite the downsizing initiatives highlight this.
