Secretary of Education Linda McMahon News Tracker
Controversial Education Secretary Linda McMahon Faces Backlash Amid Efforts to Dismantle Department
Linda McMahon, the current U.S. Secretary of Education, has been making headlines with her controversial decisions and statements in recent days. McMahon, who took office in March 2025, has been actively working to dismantle the Department of Education, aligning with President Trump's campaign promises.
On April 8, 2025, McMahon defended the administration's move to drastically reduce the Education Department's workforce during her appearance at the ASU+GSV Summit, an education and technology conference in San Diego. She argued that the American public school system has continued to decline despite vast sums spent, stating, "We've just gotten to a point that we just can't keep going along doing what we're doing. Let's shake it up. Let's do something different."
The Education Department has already eliminated roughly half of its workforce, including significant cuts to the research unit and civil rights division. McMahon confirmed that the agency is looking to revamp the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), citing concerns about "mission creep." These cuts have sparked concerns about the department's ability to carry out key functions, including overseeing the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation's Report Card.
In a surprising move on March 28, 2025, McMahon abruptly informed states that their time to spend COVID relief money had come to an end. She canceled previously granted extensions, giving states and school districts only hours to liquidate remaining funds. This decision primarily affects the last round of COVID relief funding, approximately $130 billion approved in March 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
McMahon has also been deflecting questions about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts in education. During the ASU+GSV conference, she pushed back against DEI initiatives meant to close achievement gaps, characterizing them as a form of discrimination. This stance aligns with the Trump administration's recent executive orders combating critical race theory, DEI, and gender ideology in education.
On April 2, 2025, McMahon made an unexpected appearance at a press conference held by House Democrats outside the Department of Education. After a closed-door meeting with the lawmakers, she interrupted their press conference to give an impromptu statement. McMahon emphasized that education is not a partisan issue and stressed the importance of focusing on how children can best receive their education.
Despite the ongoing efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, McMahon has assured that certain programs will be preserved. She stated that Title I funds and the National Assessment of Educational Progress would not be eliminated, although they would be scrutinized. McMahon also mentioned that Pell Grants and other funding programs would be maintained.
The secretary's actions have drawn criticism from various quarters. On April 9, 2025, the Michigan State Board of Education voted 6-1 to urge McMahon to reverse her decision on COVID funds, highlighting the widespread concern over her recent policy changes.
As McMahon continues to implement significant changes in the education sector, her tenure as Secretary of Education remains a topic of intense debate and scrutiny across the nation.
On April 8, 2025, McMahon defended the administration's move to drastically reduce the Education Department's workforce during her appearance at the ASU+GSV Summit, an education and technology conference in San Diego. She argued that the American public school system has continued to decline despite vast sums spent, stating, "We've just gotten to a point that we just can't keep going along doing what we're doing. Let's shake it up. Let's do something different."
The Education Department has already eliminated roughly half of its workforce, including significant cuts to the research unit and civil rights division. McMahon confirmed that the agency is looking to revamp the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), citing concerns about "mission creep." These cuts have sparked concerns about the department's ability to carry out key functions, including overseeing the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation's Report Card.
In a surprising move on March 28, 2025, McMahon abruptly informed states that their time to spend COVID relief money had come to an end. She canceled previously granted extensions, giving states and school districts only hours to liquidate remaining funds. This decision primarily affects the last round of COVID relief funding, approximately $130 billion approved in March 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
McMahon has also been deflecting questions about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts in education. During the ASU+GSV conference, she pushed back against DEI initiatives meant to close achievement gaps, characterizing them as a form of discrimination. This stance aligns with the Trump administration's recent executive orders combating critical race theory, DEI, and gender ideology in education.
On April 2, 2025, McMahon made an unexpected appearance at a press conference held by House Democrats outside the Department of Education. After a closed-door meeting with the lawmakers, she interrupted their press conference to give an impromptu statement. McMahon emphasized that education is not a partisan issue and stressed the importance of focusing on how children can best receive their education.
Despite the ongoing efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, McMahon has assured that certain programs will be preserved. She stated that Title I funds and the National Assessment of Educational Progress would not be eliminated, although they would be scrutinized. McMahon also mentioned that Pell Grants and other funding programs would be maintained.
The secretary's actions have drawn criticism from various quarters. On April 9, 2025, the Michigan State Board of Education voted 6-1 to urge McMahon to reverse her decision on COVID funds, highlighting the widespread concern over her recent policy changes.
As McMahon continues to implement significant changes in the education sector, her tenure as Secretary of Education remains a topic of intense debate and scrutiny across the nation.
- Broadcast on:
- 10 Apr 2025
Linda McMahon, the current U.S. Secretary of Education, has been making headlines with her controversial decisions and statements in recent days. McMahon, who took office in March 2025, has been actively working to dismantle the Department of Education, aligning with President Trump's campaign promises.
On April 8, 2025, McMahon defended the administration's move to drastically reduce the Education Department's workforce during her appearance at the ASU+GSV Summit, an education and technology conference in San Diego. She argued that the American public school system has continued to decline despite vast sums spent, stating, "We've just gotten to a point that we just can't keep going along doing what we're doing. Let's shake it up. Let's do something different."
The Education Department has already eliminated roughly half of its workforce, including significant cuts to the research unit and civil rights division. McMahon confirmed that the agency is looking to revamp the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), citing concerns about "mission creep." These cuts have sparked concerns about the department's ability to carry out key functions, including overseeing the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation's Report Card.
In a surprising move on March 28, 2025, McMahon abruptly informed states that their time to spend COVID relief money had come to an end. She canceled previously granted extensions, giving states and school districts only hours to liquidate remaining funds. This decision primarily affects the last round of COVID relief funding, approximately $130 billion approved in March 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
McMahon has also been deflecting questions about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts in education. During the ASU+GSV conference, she pushed back against DEI initiatives meant to close achievement gaps, characterizing them as a form of discrimination. This stance aligns with the Trump administration's recent executive orders combating critical race theory, DEI, and gender ideology in education.
On April 2, 2025, McMahon made an unexpected appearance at a press conference held by House Democrats outside the Department of Education. After a closed-door meeting with the lawmakers, she interrupted their press conference to give an impromptu statement. McMahon emphasized that education is not a partisan issue and stressed the importance of focusing on how children can best receive their education.
Despite the ongoing efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, McMahon has assured that certain programs will be preserved. She stated that Title I funds and the National Assessment of Educational Progress would not be eliminated, although they would be scrutinized. McMahon also mentioned that Pell Grants and other funding programs would be maintained.
The secretary's actions have drawn criticism from various quarters. On April 9, 2025, the Michigan State Board of Education voted 6-1 to urge McMahon to reverse her decision on COVID funds, highlighting the widespread concern over her recent policy changes.
As McMahon continues to implement significant changes in the education sector, her tenure as Secretary of Education remains a topic of intense debate and scrutiny across the nation.
On April 8, 2025, McMahon defended the administration's move to drastically reduce the Education Department's workforce during her appearance at the ASU+GSV Summit, an education and technology conference in San Diego. She argued that the American public school system has continued to decline despite vast sums spent, stating, "We've just gotten to a point that we just can't keep going along doing what we're doing. Let's shake it up. Let's do something different."
The Education Department has already eliminated roughly half of its workforce, including significant cuts to the research unit and civil rights division. McMahon confirmed that the agency is looking to revamp the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), citing concerns about "mission creep." These cuts have sparked concerns about the department's ability to carry out key functions, including overseeing the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation's Report Card.
In a surprising move on March 28, 2025, McMahon abruptly informed states that their time to spend COVID relief money had come to an end. She canceled previously granted extensions, giving states and school districts only hours to liquidate remaining funds. This decision primarily affects the last round of COVID relief funding, approximately $130 billion approved in March 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
McMahon has also been deflecting questions about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts in education. During the ASU+GSV conference, she pushed back against DEI initiatives meant to close achievement gaps, characterizing them as a form of discrimination. This stance aligns with the Trump administration's recent executive orders combating critical race theory, DEI, and gender ideology in education.
On April 2, 2025, McMahon made an unexpected appearance at a press conference held by House Democrats outside the Department of Education. After a closed-door meeting with the lawmakers, she interrupted their press conference to give an impromptu statement. McMahon emphasized that education is not a partisan issue and stressed the importance of focusing on how children can best receive their education.
Despite the ongoing efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, McMahon has assured that certain programs will be preserved. She stated that Title I funds and the National Assessment of Educational Progress would not be eliminated, although they would be scrutinized. McMahon also mentioned that Pell Grants and other funding programs would be maintained.
The secretary's actions have drawn criticism from various quarters. On April 9, 2025, the Michigan State Board of Education voted 6-1 to urge McMahon to reverse her decision on COVID funds, highlighting the widespread concern over her recent policy changes.
As McMahon continues to implement significant changes in the education sector, her tenure as Secretary of Education remains a topic of intense debate and scrutiny across the nation.