Senate Committee Advances Linda McMahon’s Education Secretary Nomination Amid Controversy

WASHINGTON — The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted 12-11 along party lines Thursday to advance Linda McMahon‘s nomination as Secretary of Education, moving her one step closer to leading an agency President Donald Trump has indicated he wishes to overhaul or eliminate.

Dr. Bill Cassidy, a Republican senator from Louisiana and chairman of the committee, expressed strong support for McMahon, stating, “We need a strong leader at the department who will get our education system back on track, and Ms. McMahon is the right person for the job.” McMahon’s nomination will next reach the full Senate, where confirmation is anticipated.

During her confirmation hearing on Feb. 13, McMahon articulated her vision for restructuring the Education Department, which has faced scrutiny from Republicans who argue it has lost its purpose. She acknowledged that while President Trump has called to abolish the department, only Congress has the authority to enact such a measure.

“We’d like to make sure that we are presenting a plan that I think our senators could get on board with,” McMahon said. Specifically, she noted that she is committed to maintaining federal Title I funding for low-income schools and Pell grants for students who need financial support.

Despite her advocacy for education reform, Democrats on the committee raised alarms about her commitment to Trump’s agenda, particularly regarding proposed cuts to educational programs and the banning of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, stated, “It doesn’t really matter who the Secretary will be because he or she will not have the power,” asserting concerns over centralizing authority in the executive branch.

Democrats such as Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire challenged McMahon on her intentions, suggesting that dismantling the Education Department goes against the interests of vulnerable students. “We are failing our students, our Department of Education, and what we are doing today is not working and we need to change it,” McMahon countered during her testimony.

Republicans on the committee, however, maintained their backing, with Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma noting the U.S. has fallen from first to 34th place globally in education rankings since the department’s establishment in 1979. His support for McMahon hinged on the need for radical change in the educational landscape.

As the full Senate prepares to deliberate on McMahon’s confirmation, she remains a vital ally for Trump in pursuing his educational policies, which include eliminating federal funding for schools that go against his directives on educational content and student athletics. A vote from the full Senate is expected within the next two weeks.