On Tuesday night, newly re-elected President Trump revealed his plan to appoint Linda McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), to head the Department of Education.
The announcement was shared publicly shortly after several sources reported that McMahon was a leading candidate for the position.
“It is my great honor to announce that Linda McMahon, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration, will be the United States Secretary of Education,” Trump stated.
“As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand ‘Choice’ to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decisions for their families,” the press release added. “Linda served for two years on the Connecticut Board of Education, where she was one of fifteen members overseeing all Public Education in the State, including its Technical High School system.”
McMahon, who previously served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term, is married to Vince McMahon, co-founder of WWE.
“Linda will use her decades of Leadership experience, and deep understanding of both Education and Business, to empower the next Generation of American Students and Workers, and make America Number One in Education in the World,” Trump’s statement concluded. “We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.”
“While it has truly been the honor of a lifetime to serve our country in this Administration, it is time for me to step down and return to the private sector,” McMahon wrote in a 2019 statement. “I wish to thank the President and I will continue to be a strong advocate for him and his policies.”
Department Of Education Changes
Trump has previously suggested the possibility of disbanding the Department of Education, which has been operational since 1980. The agency states on its website that its mission is to “promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access for students of all ages.”
Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos commented last week, stating that the Department of Education “doesn’t really add any value anywhere.” She noted that the opportunity for Trump to significantly reform the department is “wide open.”
“Take the power away from the Department of Education, block-grant those funds, continue to invest in education, but get it down to a much more local level where better decisions are made on behalf of students,” DeVos said. “The bureaucrats at the Department of Education aren’t doing the job. They haven’t done the job for more than four decades to close the achievement gaps — they’ve only widened.”
