Linda McMahon: Trump’s Pick To Wind Down the Department of Education

As discussions swirl around the potential closure of the Department of Education, Linda McMahon stands poised to play a key role in reshaping America's education system. Her approach would emphasize returning power to the states, local communities, and, of course, the parents. In other words, she would be advocating for decentralizing control over education, believing that decision-making and authority should shift away from the federal government.

During McMahon’s confirmation hearing, she expressed a commitment to reorienting the Department of Education to assist educators rather than controlling them: “If confirmed as Secretary, I will work with Congress to reorient the department toward helping educators, not controlling them.” She is a staunch advocate for parental rights, school choice, and eliminating divisive ideologies in the classroom. McMahon could guide the nation toward a more decentralized, flexible education system that empowers families and aids academic excellence.

Read: Fighting for Parental Rights: The ACLJ’s Commitment to School Choice

From North Carolina to the Wrestling Ring

Born in 1948 in New Bern, North Carolina, McMahon was raised with a strong work ethic. Eventually, she graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in French, which later helped her to navigate global business and policy issues.

After marrying Vince McMahon in 1966, the two founded World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 1980 and turned it into a global empire. As a key executive, she helped WWE grow into a billion-dollar brand – becoming a prominent figure in WWE and contributing to some of the most iconic television moments in wrestling history.

Entry Into Politics

In 2010 and 2012, Linda McMahon ran for theU.S. Senate in Connecticut, self-financing her campaigns with nearly $100 million. Though she didn’t win, she established herself as socially moderate – but fiscally conservative – in a state dominated by liberals.

Her political career received a jolt when she aligned with President Trump, with whom she had been friends for 30 years. McMahon was a major donor to his 2016 campaign and took a leadership role in his transition. Trump appointed her as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), where she focused on cutting red tape and empowering small businesses to reflect his “America First” agenda.

Read: ACLJ Protects Children From Pornographic Material in School

Ready To Tackle Education: The Next Battle

In November 2024, President Trump nominated McMahon to serve as Secretary of Education. Her nomination was advanced by the Senate committee in February 2025, setting the stage for a Senate floor vote. McMahon’s nomination as Secretary of Education signals a transformative approach to American education, emphasizing parental rights, school choice, and the elimination of divisive ideologies in schools. As McMahon shared: “I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure every student has access to quality education. I’ve witnessed the transformative power of education, both in the classroom and also in apprenticeship programs. All students should be equipped with the necessary skills to prepare them for a successful future.” 

U.S. education inefficiencies have resulted in declining national test scores. McMahon highlights a critical concern: “The Department of Education was set up in 1980, and since that time we have spent almost a trillion dollars and we have watched our performance scores continue to go down.” The U.S. has also seen a continued decline in test scores and other educational indicators (achievement gap, school-to-prison pipeline, teacher shortages, and low college-readiness levels), demonstrating the results of neglecting systemic changes that could positively impact student success.

McMahon proposes a more diversified approach to learning, one that values both traditional classroom teaching and hands-on, real-world experiences like apprenticeships. By incorporating both avenues, she recognizes that not all students learn the same way and that multiple pathways to success should be available. Education should not adhere to a “one-size-fits-all” approach but should empower students to explore different methods of learning, allowing them to develop and hone practical skills while also excelling in academics.

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Empowering Parents and Expanding School Choice

McMahon has long advocated for empowering parents to make the best educational decisions for their children, supporting the expansion of school choice options. She has emphasized that “[p]arents should be able to choose the schools they believe can best educate their kids, whether they are neighborhood schools, private schools, religious schools, or charter schools.”

Eliminating Divisive Ideologies From Education

Committed to cutting federal red tape, McMahon aims to take a look at what our schools are teaching and potentially reduce funding for schools that promote divisive ideologies like critical race theory or radical gender theory. She supportsteaching philosophies that reward academic excellence rather than ideological indoctrination.

Decentralizing Education

McMahon’s callfor reducing the size and scope of the Department of Education aligns with President Trump’s broader agenda of decentralizing power and returning control to states, localities, and families. She believes that local communities are best positioned to determine the educational needs of their students, fostering an environment where educational policies reflect the values and priorities of the communities they serve.

Read: Parents Fighting Back Against School Choice Sabotage

Uncharted Territory

The potentialclosure of the Department of Education represents a monumental shift in how the U.S. would approach education policy. If McMahon is confirmed, her focus on decentralization and empowering parents to make the best decisions for their children could spark a new era in education.

By shifting control away from the federal government and toward states and localities, McMahon could help provide an environment where education is more tailored to the needs of individual communities. While the debate over the department’s future continues, McMahon’s leadership could play a pivotal role in redefining how America educates children and ensuring that choice, freedom, and local control are at the heart of the nation’s educational priorities.

On February 27, Senators voted 51-47 to approve a motion to invoke cloture on McMahon’s nomination, which is scheduled to receive a confirmation vote Monday, April 3.