Former President Donald Trump nominated Linda McMahon Tuesday evening, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), is his pick for Secretary of Education.
If confirmed, McMahon would replace Miguel Cardona, whose tenure has been marked by controversy over student loan policies and alleged defiance of Supreme Court rulings.
“It is my great honor to announce that Linda McMahon will be the United States Secretary of Education,” Trump stated.
Trump praised McMahon’s leadership and advocacy for educational reform, citing her tenure as Chair of the Board at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI).
During her time there, McMahon championed parents’ rights and helped achieve universal school choice in 12 states, ensuring children could access quality education regardless of income or location.
“As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand ‘choice’ to every state in America and empower parents to make the best decisions for their families,” Trump said.
McMahon brings a wealth of experience in education. She served for two years on the Connecticut Board of Education, where she helped oversee public education and the state’s technical high school system.
Additionally, she was a member of Sacred Heart University’s Board of Trustees in Fairfield, Connecticut, for a total of 16 years.
Trump emphasized McMahon’s commitment to shifting control of education back to the states, a cornerstone of his education platform. “We will send education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort,” he declared.
Trump’s nomination of McMahon aligns with his broader goal of reducing federal influence in education. He has pledged to overhaul the Department of Education, targeting policies he sees as promoting ideological agendas.
“On Day 1, I will sign a new executive order to cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content onto the shoulders of our children,” Trump reiterated.
“And I will not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate or a mask mandate.”
Trump has also expressed interest in significantly downsizing the Department of Education, advocating for a streamlined approach focused on core academic subjects.
“We’ll have one person plus a secretary,” Trump said during a campaign stop in Milwaukee last month. “Are you teaching English? Are you teaching arithmetic? Reading, writing, and arithmetic—and are you not teaching woke? Not teaching woke is a very big factor.”
Trump in Milwaukee says he wants to close down the Department of Education and have parents run public schools to make sure teachers aren't "teaching woke" or "start teaching a language we don't want them to teach" pic.twitter.com/HTjYIIqfQU
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 1, 2024
Trump’s announcement has drawn praise from supporters who view McMahon as a champion for parents’ rights and school choice.
Her track record of promoting education reform and state-level autonomy has bolstered her reputation among conservatives.
The nomination also underscores Trump’s continued focus on combating what he calls “woke” ideologies in public schools.
His education agenda, including plans to close down the Department of Education and empower parents, has been a central theme of his campaign.
As McMahon prepares for confirmation hearings, her nomination is expected to ignite debates over the future of federal education policy, school choice, and the role of government in public education.