Trump Expected to Appoint Linda McMahon as Education Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly set to nominate Linda McMahon as his Secretary of Education in the upcoming Cabinet. McMahon, co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) alongside her husband, Vince McMahon, is well-known for her previous role as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term.
Two sources confirmed the selection to Fox News on Tuesday evening. McMahon, who served in the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019, stepped down after two years, stating that the role had been “immensely rewarding.” She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, noting that it was “an honor of a lifetime” to serve, and she planned to return to the private sector. Despite her departure, McMahon remained a strong supporter of President Trump and his policies.
Linda McMahon is married to Vince McMahon, a central figure in the creation and success of WWE in 1980. While her professional background is largely rooted in business, her potential appointment to the Department of Education signals a significant shift, especially given Trump’s previous comments about potentially disbanding the agency.
The Department of Education was established in 1980 with the mission to promote student achievement and global competitiveness through fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access for all students. However, Trump has suggested in the past that the department may not be necessary, and former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos recently expressed similar sentiments.
DeVos, in an interview with Fox News, stated that the Department of Education “doesn’t really add any value” and suggested that the department’s resources should be redirected to local levels. She recommended block-granting funds to allow more localized decision-making, emphasizing that the department has failed for decades to close educational achievement gaps and has, in fact, widened them.
With McMahon’s potential nomination, it appears that Trump may pursue a more decentralized approach to education, further supporting DeVos’ call for reducing the federal government’s role in education policy.
