WASHINGTON — President Trump’s pick to lead the Education Department, Linda McMahon, cleared her committee vetting Thursday, setting up a final round of confirmation votes on the Senate floor.
McMahon, who led Trump’s Small Business Administration during his first term, was approved by all 12 Republicans on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
All 11 Democrats on the panel voted against the 76-year-old advancing to a full vote in the upper chamber.
McMahon’s confirmation hearing was held by the HELP Committee Feb. 13, with the education secretary-designate dodging when asked whether she will go along with Trump’s desire to see her department abolished.
“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 could get on board with, that would have a better functioning Department of Education,” she said.
McMahon added that the department’s elimination “certainly does require congressional action” rather than an executive order.
Meanwhile, Trump has ripped the agency he wants McMahon to run as a “con job” and said he wants his nominee “to put herself out of a job.”
McMahon went on to note that she will abide by Trump’s executive orders intended to protect women’s sports from transgender competitors, halt antisemitic hate on college campuses and end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
But she promised to keep programs involving Title I funding for low-income institutions, Pell Grants and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
McMahon also tangled with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member on the HELP Committee, over her support for school choice initiatives.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has already been rummaging through Education Department grants, contracts and other spending, identifying at least $1 billion worth of potential funding cuts.
DOGE, which is overseen by tech mogul and special government employee Elon Musk, has already moved to lay off dozens of employees and initiate a claw back of $900 million to the departmental office that tracks student progress nationwide.
McMahon in the hearing said that the DOGE “audit” results will be given to her for final decision-making.
“We will certainly expend those dollars that Congress has passed,” she added in a bid to calm angry Democrats.
Republicans have pointed to slipping national test scores and the US sliding in global education rankings as proof that the Department of Education needs a major shake-up — and say McMahon is just the person to do it.
Democrats have accused Trump of seeking to “destroy” public schools, with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) claiming that McMahon wants to overhaul curricula under the guise of DEI changes and “sell” institutions off to “billionaires.”
During the hearing, McMahon also faced hecklers who mocked her past as the president and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment.
“Can you hear what Linda McMahon is cooking? It’s a world without IDEA! [Individuals with Disabilities Education Act],” one protester erupted in the middle of McMahon’s opening remarks, referencing wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s catchphrase.
McMahon has suggested that enforcement of the 1990 law, which mandates disabled students be provided a public education tailored to their individual needs, be shifted to the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Senate has confirmed 18 of Trump’s 22 cabinet nominees as of noon Thursday.
