Nominee for President Trump’s Education Secretary Linda McMahon is set to appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions this Thursday, as the future of the department she may potentially lead hangs in the balance.
President Trump has frequently hinted at the possibility of shutting down the Department of Education, and it seems he may be closer to fulfilling that promise. Since taking office, Trump has enacted several executive orders related to education and various sources suggest he is contemplating executive actions to dismantle the agency. This week, Elon Musk, chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), also cut nearly $1 billion in funding from the department while ending numerous contracts and grants tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“Oh, I’d like it to be closed right away,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday. “The Department of Education is a significant con job.”
Before her testimony, McMahon has engaged with at least 19 Senators, including members of GOP leadership and the HELP committee, such as Chair Bill Cassidy, who remarked that their conversation was “productive.”
“She is ready to restore power to parents and reform an Education Department that has lost its way during the past four years of the Biden administration,” Cassidy posted on X.
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent ranking member of the panel, joined union members from the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers who protested against McMahon’s nomination outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
“Public education is the backbone of American democracy, where we all come together to learn and grow,” Sanders addressed the crowd. “Our goal should not be to dismantle public education but to enhance it significantly!”
Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Andy Kim of New Jersey penned a letter to McMahon, questioning her qualifications and policy perspectives.
“You possess a minimal track record on educational issues and strikingly little experience regarding education policy,” the senators stated. “This lack of a public record denies the American people the chance to assess your viewpoints on matters central to the responsibilities of the Education Secretary.”
McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment who held the position of Small Business Administration administrator during Trump’s first term, has stated that she is “dedicated” to ensuring students have access to quality education.
“I look forward to collaborating with students, educators, parents, and communities to enhance our education system, ensuring every child, regardless of demographics, is prepared for a bright future,” McMahon said in a statement following her nomination by Trump last November.
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Democratic members of Congress have taken note of Trump’s threats to dissolve the Education Department, especially as some House members were physically barred from accessing the agency’s Washington, D.C., headquarters while attempting to meet Acting Education Secretary Denise Carter last week.
“It is crucial that we allow the Department of Education to continue its work,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated during a weekly news conference. “That embodies the heart, soul, and spirit of America. I can’t fathom why Republicans would want to abolish the Department of Education; it perplexes me and the American public, and we will continue to stand up for our public schools.”
Even if Trump proceeds with an executive order, legal and education experts contend that congressional action would be necessary to eliminate the Department of Education fully.
Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota proposed legislation last year outlining a strategy to abolish the Education Department and transfer control back to the states, also redirecting other federal agencies to supervise specific functions like Pell grants and special education.
Shortly after Republicans gained control of both chambers in January, Republican Representative Tom Massie of Kentucky introduced a brief bill to terminate the agency by the end of 2026. In contrast, Democratic Representative Jahana Hayes of Connecticut, the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, has brought forward a countermeasure to safeguard the Education Department.
“We will not remove opportunities for countless children,” Hayes declared. “We cannot eliminate Pell grants and the essential programs that assist individuals from low-income communities in pursuing a college education.”
“As the American public begins to realize, ‘Wait a minute, I didn’t know that’s what this implied,’ I believe there will be public outrage and opposition,” Hayes added, referring to Trump’s desired reductions to the federal government.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson has asserted that “the time has come” to dismantle the Education Department, advocating for Congress to codify the president’s proposed executive order, if it comes to fruition.
“We believe that education is best managed by those closest to the students,” Johnson explained. “What does that entail? It involves local school districts and school boards at the state level, rather than the federal level. By doing so, we empower parents and enhance their choices. This advocacy for school choice and charter schools, coupled with innovative ideas, could return American education to a state of prominence and success if allowed.”
The Department of Education was established by legislation signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. Federal funding constitutes less than 10% of the funding for public schools in the nation, primarily supported by state and local taxes. The Department is responsible for fostering student achievement, administering programs for disadvantaged students and those with special needs, enforcing non-discrimination policies in educational institutions, and supporting federal college loan programs.
