Secretary of Education Linda McMahon News Tracker
"Shakeup at the Department of Education: Linda McMahon Leads Controversial Efforts to Dismantle the Agency"
Linda McMahon, the recently confirmed U.S. Secretary of Education, has taken decisive steps toward implementing one of the Trump administration’s most controversial education goals: dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. Since her confirmation in March, McMahon has focused on reducing federal oversight in education, empowering states and parents, and streamlining agency operations. Her plans represent a significant shift in the federal government’s role in education policy.
Early in her tenure, McMahon announced what she called the department’s "final mission," emphasizing efforts to return control of education to states and give parents greater choice in their children’s education. She has proposed refocusing taxpayer-funded education on traditional academic subjects, such as math, science, and reading, while cutting programs aligned with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. McMahon also highlighted the importance of aligning postsecondary education with workforce demands.
One of her most high-profile challenges involves preparing for the potential closure of the Department of Education. President Trump recently signed an executive order directing McMahon to take steps to facilitate the department’s shutdown, marking a historic move in U.S. federal education policy. While eliminating the department entirely would require an act of Congress, McMahon has already begun implementing significant staff cuts and terminating federal grants to align with this vision. However, the abrupt reductions have sparked litigation and criticism about the federal government’s ability to meet its legal obligations regarding student loans, civil rights enforcement, and services for children with disabilities.
McMahon has also made controversial financial decisions, including ending extensions for states to use unspent COVID relief funds for schools. Reversing prior flexibility granted by the department, she set an immediate deadline, asserting that states had sufficient time to allocate the funds. This decision, impacting unspent portions of the $130 billion in federal relief provided under the American Rescue Plan, has drawn sharp criticism from states struggling to finalize their spending.
Despite the controversy, McMahon has garnered praise from allies for her administrative expertise and strong support for reducing federal bureaucracy. Her business background and experience leading the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term have been cited as assets in managing the department’s transition. However, her lack of traditional education experience and her alignment with the goal of dismantling the department have prompted intense opposition from education advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers.
As McMahon pushes forward with her agenda, the future of federal oversight in education remains uncertain. Critics warn that reducing federal involvement risks undermining protections for vulnerable student populations, while supporters argue that her initiatives could restore local control and reinvigorate innovation in schools. McMahon’s tenure may prove to be one of the most transformative in the history of the Department of Education, for better or worse, as she works to redefine its role—or end it entirely.
Early in her tenure, McMahon announced what she called the department’s "final mission," emphasizing efforts to return control of education to states and give parents greater choice in their children’s education. She has proposed refocusing taxpayer-funded education on traditional academic subjects, such as math, science, and reading, while cutting programs aligned with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. McMahon also highlighted the importance of aligning postsecondary education with workforce demands.
One of her most high-profile challenges involves preparing for the potential closure of the Department of Education. President Trump recently signed an executive order directing McMahon to take steps to facilitate the department’s shutdown, marking a historic move in U.S. federal education policy. While eliminating the department entirely would require an act of Congress, McMahon has already begun implementing significant staff cuts and terminating federal grants to align with this vision. However, the abrupt reductions have sparked litigation and criticism about the federal government’s ability to meet its legal obligations regarding student loans, civil rights enforcement, and services for children with disabilities.
McMahon has also made controversial financial decisions, including ending extensions for states to use unspent COVID relief funds for schools. Reversing prior flexibility granted by the department, she set an immediate deadline, asserting that states had sufficient time to allocate the funds. This decision, impacting unspent portions of the $130 billion in federal relief provided under the American Rescue Plan, has drawn sharp criticism from states struggling to finalize their spending.
Despite the controversy, McMahon has garnered praise from allies for her administrative expertise and strong support for reducing federal bureaucracy. Her business background and experience leading the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term have been cited as assets in managing the department’s transition. However, her lack of traditional education experience and her alignment with the goal of dismantling the department have prompted intense opposition from education advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers.
As McMahon pushes forward with her agenda, the future of federal oversight in education remains uncertain. Critics warn that reducing federal involvement risks undermining protections for vulnerable student populations, while supporters argue that her initiatives could restore local control and reinvigorate innovation in schools. McMahon’s tenure may prove to be one of the most transformative in the history of the Department of Education, for better or worse, as she works to redefine its role—or end it entirely.
- Broadcast on:
- 08 Apr 2025
Linda McMahon, the recently confirmed U.S. Secretary of Education, has taken decisive steps toward implementing one of the Trump administration’s most controversial education goals: dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. Since her confirmation in March, McMahon has focused on reducing federal oversight in education, empowering states and parents, and streamlining agency operations. Her plans represent a significant shift in the federal government’s role in education policy.
Early in her tenure, McMahon announced what she called the department’s "final mission," emphasizing efforts to return control of education to states and give parents greater choice in their children’s education. She has proposed refocusing taxpayer-funded education on traditional academic subjects, such as math, science, and reading, while cutting programs aligned with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. McMahon also highlighted the importance of aligning postsecondary education with workforce demands.
One of her most high-profile challenges involves preparing for the potential closure of the Department of Education. President Trump recently signed an executive order directing McMahon to take steps to facilitate the department’s shutdown, marking a historic move in U.S. federal education policy. While eliminating the department entirely would require an act of Congress, McMahon has already begun implementing significant staff cuts and terminating federal grants to align with this vision. However, the abrupt reductions have sparked litigation and criticism about the federal government’s ability to meet its legal obligations regarding student loans, civil rights enforcement, and services for children with disabilities.
McMahon has also made controversial financial decisions, including ending extensions for states to use unspent COVID relief funds for schools. Reversing prior flexibility granted by the department, she set an immediate deadline, asserting that states had sufficient time to allocate the funds. This decision, impacting unspent portions of the $130 billion in federal relief provided under the American Rescue Plan, has drawn sharp criticism from states struggling to finalize their spending.
Despite the controversy, McMahon has garnered praise from allies for her administrative expertise and strong support for reducing federal bureaucracy. Her business background and experience leading the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term have been cited as assets in managing the department’s transition. However, her lack of traditional education experience and her alignment with the goal of dismantling the department have prompted intense opposition from education advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers.
As McMahon pushes forward with her agenda, the future of federal oversight in education remains uncertain. Critics warn that reducing federal involvement risks undermining protections for vulnerable student populations, while supporters argue that her initiatives could restore local control and reinvigorate innovation in schools. McMahon’s tenure may prove to be one of the most transformative in the history of the Department of Education, for better or worse, as she works to redefine its role—or end it entirely.
Early in her tenure, McMahon announced what she called the department’s "final mission," emphasizing efforts to return control of education to states and give parents greater choice in their children’s education. She has proposed refocusing taxpayer-funded education on traditional academic subjects, such as math, science, and reading, while cutting programs aligned with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. McMahon also highlighted the importance of aligning postsecondary education with workforce demands.
One of her most high-profile challenges involves preparing for the potential closure of the Department of Education. President Trump recently signed an executive order directing McMahon to take steps to facilitate the department’s shutdown, marking a historic move in U.S. federal education policy. While eliminating the department entirely would require an act of Congress, McMahon has already begun implementing significant staff cuts and terminating federal grants to align with this vision. However, the abrupt reductions have sparked litigation and criticism about the federal government’s ability to meet its legal obligations regarding student loans, civil rights enforcement, and services for children with disabilities.
McMahon has also made controversial financial decisions, including ending extensions for states to use unspent COVID relief funds for schools. Reversing prior flexibility granted by the department, she set an immediate deadline, asserting that states had sufficient time to allocate the funds. This decision, impacting unspent portions of the $130 billion in federal relief provided under the American Rescue Plan, has drawn sharp criticism from states struggling to finalize their spending.
Despite the controversy, McMahon has garnered praise from allies for her administrative expertise and strong support for reducing federal bureaucracy. Her business background and experience leading the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term have been cited as assets in managing the department’s transition. However, her lack of traditional education experience and her alignment with the goal of dismantling the department have prompted intense opposition from education advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers.
As McMahon pushes forward with her agenda, the future of federal oversight in education remains uncertain. Critics warn that reducing federal involvement risks undermining protections for vulnerable student populations, while supporters argue that her initiatives could restore local control and reinvigorate innovation in schools. McMahon’s tenure may prove to be one of the most transformative in the history of the Department of Education, for better or worse, as she works to redefine its role—or end it entirely.