Linda McMahon selected by Trump as Education Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump announced that Linda McMahon will be the new Secretary of the Department of Education, despite his previous pledge to abolish the department.
The position requires confirmation from the Senate. McMahon, 76, currently co-chairs Trump’s transition team.
McMahon previously served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) during Trump’s first term. She resigned in 2019 and chaired America First Action, a pro-Trump SuperPAC.
Trump believes McMahon will work tirelessly to expand school choice nationwide and give parents the power to make the best decisions for their children.
Trump stated that McMahon’s leadership experience, along with her background in education and business, could help the United States become the top leader in education globally.
Trump praised McMahon’s knowledge of both education and business, highlighting her roles on the Connecticut Board of Education and the Board of Trustees at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut.
He credited her work with America First Policy Institute and America First Works for leading 12 states to adopt universal school choice, providing quality education to children regardless of their location or income.
“We will ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education,” Trump declared at a campaign rally in Wisconsin.
He vowed to prevent the agency from misusing taxpayer funds to influence the youth with undesirable ideologies.
McMahon, along with her husband Vince McMahon, launched the WWE professional wrestling promotion company, where she served as CEO.
McMahon also chaired the America First Policy Institute, established in 2021 to advance Trump’s policies for a potential second term, such as extending tax cuts and continuing deregulation.
Emel Akan and Andrew Moran contributed to this report.