President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to nominate Linda McMahon, co-chair of his transition team, to lead the Education Department in his second term. This nomination aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to transfer education oversight back to the states by eliminating the Department of Education. Trump emphasized that McMahon will spearhead this effort, quoting, “We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.”
Linda McMahon, former executive of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and head of the Small Business Administration under Trump, has significant experience in education governance. She has been on the Connecticut Board of Education and served over 16 years on the Board of Trustees at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. McMahon, a seasoned Republican fundraiser, unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut twice.
From 2017 to 2019, McMahon led the SBA, later joining a Trump political action committee for his 2020 reelection campaign. She is currently the chair of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank supporting Trump. Meanwhile, a lawsuit claims WWE, led by Vince McMahon, failed to prevent the sexual abuse of underage “Ring Boys,” as reported by Axios, with Linda McMahon named as a co-defendant.
In Trump’s first term, Betsy DeVos, a wealthy donor, served as Education Secretary, resigning post the January 6 Capitol attack. National Education Association President Becky Pringle criticized McMahon’s lack of qualifications, stating McMahon and Trump aim to privatize public schools through their Project 2025 proposal. Pringle warned this could harm vulnerable students, increase class sizes, and put student civil rights at risk.
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