McMahon stated scholar loans, particular training funding, and grants for low-income faculties could be streamlined however not lower beneath her management.
At her affirmation listening to, simply days after President Donald Trump and the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) launched into deep cuts to the Division of Schooling, Linda McMahon, the president’s decide for Secretary of Schooling, was requested how a federal company on the chopping block may proceed to serve nearly all of Okay-12 and college college students throughout America.
McMahon appeared earlier than the Senate Committee on Well being, Schooling, Labor, and Pensions in Washington on Feb. 13.
Throughout Trump’s first administration, McMahon, 76, served as administrator of the Small Enterprise Administration. She and her husband, Vince McMahon, based World Wrestling Leisure.
McMahon beforehand served on Connecticut’s board of training and is presently on Sacred Coronary heart College’s board of trustees. She additionally chaired the America First Coverage Institute suppose tank and twice ran, unsuccessfully, for the U.S. Senate.
Final 12 months, the Division of Schooling operated with a price range of about $268 billion and $4,400. Trump and DOGE started spending cuts this week by canceling greater than $900 million on contracts associated to the division’s analysis features and variety, fairness, and inclusion coaching.
Trump has acknowledged that McMahon is predicted to lose her job as she helps him dismantle the division and return management of public training to the states.
McMahon instructed the Senate committee Chairman Invoice Cassidy (R-La.) that “it isn’t the president’s objective to defund the packages … solely to have it function extra effectively.”
In 5 separate incidents in the course of the listening to, viewers members recognized as academics have been eliminated for disruptive habits that Cassidy referred to as “amazingly dangerous.”
Listed here are key takeaways from the listening to.
Reduce Forms, Not Funding
McMahon stated, usually, it isn’t the president’s objective to defund packages however to have them function extra effectively.
Requested repeatedly by committee Democrats if Trump may abolish the Division of Schooling, McMahon replied that the president could be working with Congress on the plans.
She stated she favors dismantling the company and transferring its administrative features to different departments. For instance, scholar mortgage features could be moved to the Division of the Treasury and the company’s Workplace of Civil Rights to the Justice Division. McMahon stated incapacity points may go to Well being and Human Providers, which administered funds for particular teaching programs for 4 years earlier than the Division of Schooling was established in 1979.
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) stated that she opposes entrusting particular training oversight to newly confirmed HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and that one of many Division of Schooling’s preliminary functions was to supply nearer consideration to disabled college students by a smaller company.
“These children have been institutionalized and abused,” Hassan stated. “It takes a nationwide dedication to get it achieved.”
McMahon cited the decline of studying and math scores throughout the nation as another excuse for dismantling the Schooling Division and trusting states to find out their curriculum and requirements.
“We’re failing our college students,” she stated. “What we’re doing shouldn’t be working, and we have to change it.”
Common Faculty Alternative
McMahon stated one in every of her main obligations is strengthening public faculties, however she helps all types of faculty selection, together with non-public faculty vouchers.
She cited examples of Connecticut constitution faculties that helped college students transfer past grade degree at a time when the bigger neighborhood excessive faculties have been graduating college students who may barely learn. The charters in her state function with state funds however should elevate their very own cash for services.
McMahon’s place sparked the ire of committee Democrats who oppose states funding vouchers for personal faculties that aren’t obligated to confess all college students. Rating member Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) stated faculty selection packages would set up a two-tier training system that segregates college students by race and socioeconomic standing.
“In America, we should not enable that to occur,” Sanders stated.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) stated public faculties throughout all states, no matter class and race or city or rural location, are already failing beneath the present forms that has price taxpayers practically $1 trillion.
“For the poorest children in our nation who’re disillusioned concerning the American dream, the solutions they’re in search of not often come from Washington,” Scott stated. “To show this round, we want somebody who has already succeeded in enterprise and authorities.”
Uncertainty on DEI Parameters
McMahon stated variety, fairness, and inclusion (DEI) packages have been established with good intentions, however over time, they grew to become extra divisive, resulting in latest occasions during which some excessive faculties have separate scholar authorities leaders for Black and Hispanic college students.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) requested if Trump’s government orders in opposition to DEI ought to be interpreted to imply faculties would lose federal funding in the event that they train African-American historical past or enable after-school ethnic golf equipment or scholar organizations, to which McMahon replied she would love to check out these packages and absolutely perceive the breadth of the chief order and get again to him.
“That’s fairly chilling,” Murphy stated of the chief order.
Vocational Schooling
McMahon stated too many steering counselors and fogeys, herself included, have historically bought highschool college students on four-year school packages whereas ignoring profession and technical coaching alternatives.
The nominee advocated increasing federally funded scholar loans and Pell Grant packages to cowl shorter-term certificates packages. She additionally inspired public faculties to do all they will to assist college students lower your expenses on furthering their training or profession coaching after twelfth grade, together with dual-credit packages the place college students full school or certificates credit earlier than highschool commencement.
“A four-year diploma shouldn’t be for everybody,” she stated. “It’s not one measurement matches all.”
Widespread Sense on School Campuses
In response to Republican members’ questions, McMahon stated she would uphold Trump’s order to forestall organic males from taking part in on girls’s sports activities groups or coming into their locker rooms, finish DEI-related hiring and admissions practices, and combat anti-Semitism on college campuses.
She additionally stated she would examine allegations that greater training accreditation companies use their leverage to keep up liberal educating colleges and trustees.
Whereas President Joe Biden’s scholar mortgage forgiveness program is not going to be continued beneath Trump, the general public service scholar mortgage forgiveness program that dates again many years is a unique matter.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) requested McMahon if she would proceed to honor scholar mortgage forgiveness to qualifying members of the army, first responders, and different professionals who’re eligible for the profit, even when DOGE have been to suggest in any other case.
“Sure,” McMahon stated, “as a result of that’s the regulation.”