Linda McMahon’s Stance on School Funding for Black History Teaching Under Scrutiny
During her Senate confirmation hearing on February 13, Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Department of Education, did not clarify whether public schools could face funding cuts for teaching Black history. McMahon, co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment and former head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term, was nominated for the Secretary of Education role on November 19.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) questioned McMahon about the potential impact of a Trump executive order that bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in education. Specifically, Murphy inquired if this order could result in defunding schools that offer African American history courses.
McMahon responded, “I’m not quite certain,” and added, “I’d like to look into it further and get back to you on that.”
Murphy further pressed McMahon to clarify whether there was a possibility of funding being withdrawn from schools for teaching these courses.
“That’s not what I’m saying,” McMahon replied. “I’m saying I’d like to take a look at these programs and fully understand the breadth of the executive order and get back to you on that.”
McMahon echoed this sentiment when asked if schools might lose funding for having student groups focused on ethnic identity.
Senator Murphy described McMahon’s responses as “chilling” due to their ambiguity.
President Trump has enacted several executive orders that prohibit DEI initiatives across government, educational institutions, and private sectors. The broad nature of these orders, which lack a clear definition of DEI, has resulted in widespread uncertainty among schools, universities, and businesses regarding compliance.
In the United States, approximately 10% of public school funding is federally sourced, primarily supporting low-income students and those with disabilities.
Black history is incorporated into the curriculum of most public schools in the U.S., with twelve states mandating its inclusion.
McMahon has faced criticism for her limited background in education. Her one-year tenure on Connecticut’s state Board of Education ended in 2010 after it was revealed she falsely claimed to hold a bachelor’s degree in education.
Additionally, Linda McMahon and her husband, Vince McMahon, contributed $15 million to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
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