President-elect Donald Trump has named Linda McMahon, co-chair of his transition team and former head of the Small Business Administration, as his nominee for secretary of the Department of Education, solidifying Trump’s commitment to a dramatic overhaul of the federal education landscape, with potential implications for the department’s future.
McMahon’s career trajectory is nothing short of remarkable. As the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), she transformed a niche family-run wrestling promotion into a global media empire. With her experience as an entrepreneur and her tenure at the Small Business Administration, where she spearheaded programs supporting small business growth, she has successfully shaped her image as a decisive leader.
McMahon’s political influence extends beyond her administrative roles. As a major donor to Republican causes, she contributed over $7 million to pro-Trump super PACs during his first presidential campaign, with her subsequent role as chair of America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC, and her involvement with the America First Policy Institute underscoring her deep ties to Trump’s political agenda. With the inauguration coming up in January, Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick will co-chair Trump’s transition committee.
Trump’s selection of McMahon comes amid his calls to abolish the Department of Education, a decisive fulfillment of a campaign pledge made to the National Educator’s Association. He repeatedly criticized the agency as an example of federal overreach, pledging to “drain the government education swamp” and return control to states and local communities.
President Jimmy Carter established the Department of Education in 1979, which is responsible for administering significant federal funding for public schools and overseeing the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. Programs like Title I, which supports low-income families, and IDEA, which addresses the needs of children with disabilities, constitute its core functions.
Eliminating the Department of Education is a complex task requiring congressional approval, a hurdle Trump and his administration have faced before. During his first term, despite a Republican-controlled Congress, a proposal to merge the Education and Labor departments failed to gain traction.
The director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, Marguerite Roza, emphasizes the enduring popularity of initiatives like Title I. “I don’t think that schools would suddenly lose money,” she explained, highlighting bipartisan support for such funding.
As education secretary, McMahon would likely focus on decentralizing the federal government’s role in education, aligning with Trump’s vision to shift authority back to states. The department might use regulatory processes to reverse policies implemented by the Biden administration.
A particular point of focus could be sports participation policies for transgender students, a contentious issue that Trump spotlighted during his campaign. However, critics argue that such changes could restrict the rights of transgender students, further politicizing education.
Republican lawmakers, including newly elected senators Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Tim Sheehy of Montana, have expressed support for reducing federal oversight of education. However, even with Republican control of the Senate, the road to abolishing the Department of Education remains uncertain.
Historically, attempts to dismantle the department have faced resistance, with President Ronald Reagan making similar pledges during his administration but eventually abandoning the effort due to a lack of congressional support. Currently, experts caution that reducing the department’s role may be more feasible than outright elimination.
While McMahon’s business acumen and fundraising capabilities position her as a formidable leader, critics question her qualifications in the education sector. Nevertheless, Trump’s confidence in her ability to navigate complex political landscapes suggests she will play a pivotal role in reshaping the nation’s educational framework.
