Linda McMahon Announces ‘Final Mission’ After Narrow Senate Confirmation

Green sign with the words The End skyward

Linda McMahon, WWE co-founder and former Small Business Administration head, has been confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Education with the unprecedented task of dismantling the very department she now leads.

Key Insights

  • McMahon was confirmed by a 51-45 party-line Senate vote to lead the Department of Education.
  • Her primary mission is to fulfill President Trump’s campaign promise to eliminate the federal Department of Education and return education control to states.
  • The plan faces significant legislative hurdles, requiring 60 Senate votes for congressional approval.
  • McMahon’s approach focuses on three principles: parental decision-making, emphasis on core subjects over DEI programs, and aligning education with workforce needs.
  • Despite her commitment to this “historic final mission,” polls show limited public support for eliminating the Department of Education.

Senate Confirms McMahon Amid Republican Push for Education Reform

The Senate confirmed Linda McMahon as the new U.S. Secretary of Education by a 51-45 vote on Monday, strictly along party lines. Four senators missed the vote: Republicans Cynthia Lummis, Shelley Moore Capito, and Democrats Elissa Slotkin and Peter Welch. McMahon, who previously served as head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term, now faces the extraordinary task of working to dismantle the very department she’s been appointed to lead.

President Trump has made his expectations clear. “I told Linda, ‘Linda, I hope you do a great job and put yourself out of a job. I want her to put herself out of a job, Education Department,'” Trump stated. This aligns with his campaign promise to transfer education control from the federal government back to state and local authorities. The ambitious plan would require congressional approval, specifically 60 votes in the Senate, presenting a significant legislative challenge given the current political landscape.

McMahon’s Vision for Education Transformation

On her first day in office, McMahon wasted no time outlining her vision, describing it as a “momentous final mission” for the Department of Education. In an email to department staff, she emphasized that a comprehensive review of the department’s programs is “long overdue,” stating bluntly that “the Department of Education is not working as intended.” The newly appointed Secretary has criticized the department’s performance since its establishment in 1980, citing poor student outcomes despite significant taxpayer funding.

“Our job is to respect the will of the American people and the President they elected, who has tasked us with accomplishing the elimination of bureaucratic bloat here at the Department of Education—a momentous final mission—quickly and responsibly.” – Linda McMahon

McMahon’s approach rests on three core principles: empowering parents to make educational decisions for their children, focusing on fundamental subjects like math, reading, science, and history rather than DEI programs, and aligning post-secondary education with workforce needs. She brings relevant experience to the role, holding a teaching certification from East Carolina University and having served on both the Connecticut State Board of Education and the Board of Trustees at Sacred Heart University.

Challenges and Opposition to Department Elimination

Despite McMahon’s determination, the path to dismantling the Department of Education faces significant obstacles. A Meredith College Poll indicates limited public support for eliminating the department entirely, with opposition from many demographic groups. The legislative requirement for 60 Senate votes presents a substantial hurdle in the current political environment. Trump is expected to sign an executive order to begin reducing the department’s scope, but congressional approval remains necessary for complete elimination.

“My vision is aligned with the President’s: to send education back to the states and empower all parents to choose an excellent education for their children. The Department of Education’s role in this new era of accountability is to restore the rightful role of state oversight in education and to end the overreach from Washington.” – Linda McMahon

McMahon acknowledges the procedural requirements, noting, “We’d like to do this right, that certainly does require congressional action.” To support her efforts, Penny Schwinn has been nominated as deputy secretary of education, with additional senior-level appointees expected to join the leadership team. This administrative restructuring comes as President Trump’s education agenda also includes combating critical race theory, promoting school choice, and restoring what he calls “patriotic education” in American schools.

Sources:

  1. WWE co-founder Linda McMahon confirmed as secretary of education
  2. Linda McMahon confirmed to lead U.S. Department of Education, calls overhaul of the department ‘final mission’
  3. McMahon on Day 1 launches ‘final mission’ to send education back to the states
  4. Trump’s new education boss just took over — and she’s already announcing a ‘historic final mission’

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