Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, appeared before the Senate HELP Committee February 13 for a confirmation hearing that largely centered on the administration’s goal of dismantling the Department of Education​. [USA Today; Politico]

Why it matters: McMahon is being considered to oversee an agency that President Trump has repeatedly said he wants to eliminate. The White House is reportedly preparing an executive order directing McMahon to draft a plan to shift key education functions to other agencies. However, as we’ve written in the past, eliminating the Department outright would require congressional approval and may have more limited implications than some expect.

What she said: In her opening statement, McMahon painted a bleak picture of the current education system, citing declining academic performance and growing concerns over campus safety. She emphasized her commitment to school choice, workforce development, and streamlining federal oversight​. [Fox News]

  • “We must fund education freedom, not government-run systems,” she said, pledging to shift decision-making power away from Washington and toward states and parents​.
  • She reassured lawmakers that core programs like Pell Grants and Title I funding for low-income schools would remain intact, even if the department itself were to be restructured​: “It’s not the president’s goal to defund the programs, only to have it operate more efficiently.”

The hearing highlighted broader debates about the federal role in education:

  • Department restructuring: McMahon said they weren’t sure yet how functions like special education oversight could be transferred back to the Department of Health and Human Services.
  • School choice: She advocated for expanding charter schools, education savings accounts, and vouchers, positioning choice as a remedy for post-pandemic learning declines.
  • Executive order implications: The expected executive order could accelerate changes, but she acknowledged in the hearing that full elimination of the department would require congressional approval: “We’d like to do this right. We’d like to make sure that we are presenting a plan that I think our senators could get on board with, and our Congress to get on board with.” 

What’s next: McMahon is expected to be confirmed by the Senate with Republican support. The Senate HELP Committee is expected to vote February 20 to move her confirmation vote to the floor.