Senate Appoints Linda McMahon as Education Secretary: What It Means for Trump’s Promise to Close the Department

Linda McMahon has been confirmed as the Secretary of the Department of Education under President Donald Trump. McMahon is not only a prominent Republican donor but also has a background in professional wrestling as an executive.

Trump aims to reduce or even eliminate the Department of Education, which aligns with his administration’s goals. He hopes McMahon will help make the department so small that she “puts herself out of a job.”

The Senate confirmed her nomination with a vote of 51 to 45, marking her as Trump’s 22nd nominee to receive Senate approval since he took office.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed support for McMahon before the vote, stating his anticipation to work with her to minimize bureaucracy and support local governments. He emphasized the need for good teachers to focus on helping students succeed.

McMahon previously served as the Small Business Administration Administrator during Trump’s first term and has been actively involved in pro-Trump initiatives since then, including chairing the America First Policy Institute.

While McMahon faces the task of potentially overseeing the department’s reduction, completely dismantling it poses challenges. Any effort to shut it down would require congressional approval, as the department helps fund nearly every public school and manages a large federal student loan portfolio worth $1.6 trillion.

The Education Department has recently offered buyouts of up to $25,000 to certain employees. This offer, aimed at reducing staff, was communicated to employees with a deadline for acceptance.

The goal of these buyouts and the exact number of expected reductions remains unclear. The department has confirmed the authenticity of the email detailing the buyout offer but has not provided further specifics.