Trump’s Pick for Education Secretary Poised to Dismantle Public Education
IN BRIEF: President Donald Trump has nominated Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education, a move that threatens the very foundation of America’s public education system. McMahon has never been an educator or administrator and lacks firsthand knowledge of student needs. If confirmed, she’ll essentially serve as a rubber stamp for President Trump’s extreme agenda to erode federal oversight, weaken civil rights protections, and divert resources from public schools — efforts that would disproportionately harm our most vulnerable students.
WHY IT MATTERS: The Department of Education enforces civil rights laws, distributes federal funding, and administers programs — like Head Start — that ensure equal access to quality education for all students. If the department were dismantled, as President Trump has vowed to do, these critical functions would be eliminated, which would exacerbate existing inequities.
McMahon also backs privatizing public schools, which would divert much-needed resources from public schools — where over 80% of students learn — to private schools, increasing segregation and the already steep disparities faced by students from historically marginalized groups. Just as concerning, McMahon also opposes inclusive history education, calling discussions of systemic racism "political indoctrination."
ON THE HORIZON: McMahon’s confirmation hearing was held this week in the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee. That committee will soon vote on her nomination, with a vote before the full Senate coming shortly thereafter.
LDF AT WORK: LDF is deeply committed to ensuring all students, especially those from marginalized communities, receive an equitable education. Last week, LDF President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce on the “State of Education in America.” During her testimony, Nelson called on Congress to reject attempts to shirk federal responsibility in public education, emphasizing that it’s a “civil right and public good for all.”
Moreover, LDF is engaging lawmakers to oppose McMahon’s nomination and raising awareness about how catastrophic her confirmation would be for the future of public education. On Feb. 12, the organization sent a detailed letter to Senate leadership opposing her confirmation.
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