Trump Selects Linda McMahon to Lead ED
By Hugh T. Ferguson, NASFAA Managing Editor
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former wrestling executive Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education (ED).
McMahon served during Trump’s first term as head of the Small Business Administration. In the education space, McMahon served on the Connecticut State Board of Education in 2009. Her nomination was announced in a post from Trump’s campaign team in which he noted that McMahon would spearhead the administration's efforts to “send education back to the states.”
On issues related to higher education, McMahon has voiced support for expanding the Pell Grant program, endorsed the bipartisan short-term Pell Grant legislation, and advocated for increasing access to career and technical education programs.
Republican lawmakers have praised the nomination. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, noted that McMahon will work to empower students.
“She’s a fighter who will work tirelessly in service of the students – not the so-called elite institutions, or the teachers unions or the federal bureaucracy,” Foxx said in a press release. “I am thrilled to congratulate my fellow North Carolinian and my friend on her nomination and look forward to seeing all that she accomplishes.”
Meanwhile, Democrats have expressed an interest in learning more about how McMahon will approach leading ED.
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said that while he remains staunchly opposed to Trump’s campaign pledge to “abolish” ED and his administration’s handling of the student loan system, Scott will continue to look for ways to find common ground to support students.
“The vast majority America’s students attend a public school. As such, the Secretary of Education has the enormous responsibility of ensuring all students have the opportunity to access to a high-quality education that leads to a rewarding career,” Scott said in a press release. “Ms. McMahon does not have a long history of work in education, so I will wait to pass judgement on her nomination until she has been fully vetted by the Senate.”
The Senate will consider the nomination in January.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to Today’s News for more information.
Publication Date: 11/21/2024
James C | 11/21/2024 12:29:17 PM
An enabler as DOE Secretary?
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/21/business/linda-mcmahon-abuse-wwe-trump-education/index.html
Garrett C | 11/21/2024 10:59:40 AM
David, A degree’s focus isn’t the same as fabricating credentials, nor is it comparable to lying about a certification critical to public safety. There’s no evidence of malicious intent here.
Let’s not sensationalize this situation with hypotheticals about bridges collapsing or engineers falsifying credentials. Equating her misunderstanding of a degree’s focus with someone outright lying about professional certifications is a stretch.
The focus of a degree isn’t even listed on most diplomas. Her qualifications don’t rest solely on the program of study but on her experience, insights, and contributions to the field. The discrepancy was acknowledged and corrected. If she had falsely claimed to be a certified educator, that would be a completely different story.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Joshua M | 11/21/2024 10:31:41 AM
looking forward to anything but the current at this point.
David S | 11/21/2024 9:45:13 AM
Aside from what you presume to be my libations of choice Garrett, I would argue that these details matter. The context of her fabrication is not incidental; her false claim to have an education degree was for the purpose of advancing her career and influence in the field of education. If your town was building a bridge and hired someone to oversee the project who claimed to have a degree in civil engineering, but it turned out that their degree was in fact in history, I don't think you'd be upset if the fake engineer was relieved of their duties.
Or are you arguing that after 40 years someone can be excused for forgetting what their degree is in? I'm Class of 1982 and I remember what I studied.
Garrett C | 11/21/2024 9:24:39 AM
David, settle down and stop drinking the kool aid. The fact is she has a bachelor's degree from that University (more than 40 years ago) when she said she did.
James C | 11/21/2024 9:15:12 AM
Uniquely unqualified
David S | 11/21/2024 8:52:45 AM
Every member of NASFAA (I hope) works at a school or company where this would be immediate grounds for dismissal for employees at every level, or the end of candidacy for all job applicants.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/former-wwe-ceo-linda-mcmahon-got-body-slammed-over-fake-education-degree/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2024/11/20/linda-mcmahon-education-secretary-degree-discrepancy/76451271007/
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