Linda McMahon’s Senate Testimony Reveals Surprising Gaps in Education Knowledge

Linda McMahon, a former wrestling executive and a significant donor to the GOP, had a challenging time during her confirmation hearing to head the Department of Education. This hearing comes as President Trump shows intentions to reduce the department’s influence.

For two and a half hours, senators grilled McMahon on her qualifications and policies. While she supported Trump’s education goals, like private-school vouchers and sports bans for trans girls, her lack of experience was clear. She struggled with basic questions about federal education laws.

Previously, McMahon led the Small Business Administration and co-founded World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) with Vince McMahon. Her education background is minimal—she only taught for a semester and resigned from the Connecticut Board of Education after a misleading claim about her degree was revealed. She has been involved as a trustee at a private Catholic university but lacks real experience in educational policy.

As the chair of the American First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank, McMahon promotes school-choice programs and emphasizes parental control over school curricula. If confirmed, she plans to boost vocational training and limit the teaching of critical race theory, asserting that education policies should largely be managed at the state and local levels.

The Department of Education, established in 1980, plays a crucial role, distributing billions each year for various programs like Pell Grants, early childhood education, and resources for disabled students. It is responsible for enforcing civil rights laws in schools and investigating discrimination complaints.

Trump has openly expressed a desire to eliminate the department, but the process requires Congressional action. While McMahon did not directly support this plan, she suggested that certain educational responsibilities could be managed by other federal agencies, like the Department of Justice or the Department of Health and Human Services.

During the questioning, McMahon faltered when asked about the obligations schools have regarding off-campus sexual assaults. Under existing regulations, schools are not required to investigate these incidents. This misstatement raised concerns about her understanding of current education laws.

McMahon also struggled with specifics about critical education laws, including the Every Student Succeeds Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. She mistakenly claimed that private schools don’t receive federal funding, not recognizing that some do through grants.

When confronted with the reality of implementing law versus following Trump’s directives, she noted that the president wouldn’t ask her to do anything illegal. Yet, her statements seemed to downplay the potential repercussions of budget cuts and funding cancellations directed by the administration.

Her nomination is set for further review, with a committee vote scheduled after another hearing on February 20. The outcome remains uncertain as her suitability for the role continues to be debated.