Linda McMahon, the newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of Education, has sparked significant controversy and concern among educators and policymakers. Her confirmation by the Senate in a party-line vote of 51 to 45 on March 4, 2025, marked the beginning of a tumultuous period for the Department of Education.

McMahon, a co-founder of the WWE and former head of the Small Business Administration during Trump's first term, lacks a substantial background in education. Her nomination was met with strong opposition from educators, who argue that she is unqualified for the role and intends to push an extremist agenda aligned with President Trump's policies. McMahon has pledged to expand voucher programs, which critics argue would drain resources from public schools and benefit unaccountable private schools that can discriminate against students and educators[1].

One of the most striking aspects of McMahon's tenure so far is her commitment to dismantling the Department of Education itself. A draft executive order, which President Trump is expected to sign soon, directs McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education. This move follows Trump's repeated campaign pledges to eliminate the 45-year-old agency. While the actual dissolution would require congressional approval, the administration has already begun scaling back the department's functions, canceling hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts and grants, and reducing the department's staff[4].

McMahon's vision for education includes returning control to the states and promoting universal school choice, which has raised concerns among Democrats and some Republicans. The fear is that states might use federal funds solely to support school choice vouchers, potentially harming public schools, especially those in rural and low-income areas. McMahon and Trump argue that this approach would free students from bureaucratic red tape and allow parents more control over their children's education. However, critics like Senator Bernie Sanders warn that such policies would be devastating for working-class and low-income communities[2].

The Trump administration's aggressive actions against the Department of Education are not limited to McMahon's role. The administration has canceled a national test measuring 17-year-olds' performance in math and reading, part of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and has laid off or placed on administrative leave over 100 department employees. These moves are part of a broader effort to downsize the department, with the White House suggesting that its functions could be redistributed to other federal agencies, such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice[4].

The future of the Department of Education under McMahon's leadership remains uncertain but highly contentious. Educators and advocacy groups are organizing to oppose the Trump-McMahon agenda, fearing it will undermine the essential functions of the department, including coordinating federal funding for schools in lower-income communities and enforcing rules that protect students' and educators' rights. As the situation unfolds, it is clear that the battle over the direction of American education will be a central issue in the coming months[1][4].