Senate Schedules McMahon’s Confirmation Hearing for Next Thursday
By Hugh T. Ferguson, NASFAA Managing Editor
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee has scheduled a confirmation hearing for Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Education (ED).
The hearing will take place on Thursday, February 13, and much of the discussion will likely focus on the Trump administration’s reported effort to dismantle the department.
Reports have also indicated that the White House may unveil an executive order to dismantle ED after McMahon’s hearing. Still, the timing and contents of that order remain unclear.
McMahon, a former wrestling executive, 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.
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.
In recent remarks, Trump has said McMahon should "put herself out of a job" and use her appointment to put the states in charge of education.
Stay tuned to Today’s News for coverage of McMahon’s confirmation hearing.
Publication Date: 2/7/2025
David S | 2/7/2025 1:43:54 PM
Darren, I would contend that what got us 1.7 trillion in student loan debt is that America stopped treating higher education as a public good. The countries where quality higher ed systems are free or at very low cost recognize its value and therefore make it a national priority in which they are willing to invest. We stopped doing that a few generations ago and turned college costs into a users tax.
The next plan I hear from this administration about how to lower the cost of college will be the first (and that includes during the previous term). I have never heard that expressed as a priority.
Darren C | 2/7/2025 12:17:08 PM
I’m extremely optimistic for the changes that will be coming. What has been status quo hasn’t been working. I will be interested to see how things proceed once McMahon is confirmed to lead the Department of Education. For some people, when change comes, they point fingers and claim that it’ll never work. I recommend being open to a different approach. If the old approach got us 1.7 trillion in education debt, and a consistent drop in overall educational achievement in public education in this country then maybe consider change as an opportunity. Stay positive.
David S | 2/7/2025 11:42:58 AM
From the Glass Half Empty Office:
For those feeling all confident because eliminating a Department can only be done by Congress, a) Trump ignores every "that can only be done this way" law/regulation/policy/standard procedure that conflicts with what he wants to do, and b) he has a stranglehold on every Republican elected official in DC, many of whom are on record supporting the elimination of the Department of Education. That Republicans have been talking about this for 45 years without actually doing it shouldn't make anyone very comfortable.
Can things like loan collections and cash management be taken over by Treasury? I suppose, but then those functions and the staff who perform them become the new kids on the block and probably last in line for resources at a Department that already has its own priorities and ways of doing things. Who inherits oversight for the down in the weeds jobs that require in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of financial aid, such as the FAFSA and training and regulatory staff we rely on so heavily, those colleagues who present at our conferences and webinars so we feel more confident in our ability to run a compliant operation? I'm not sure that tasks like those are high on the priority list of those in charge (including the unelected shadow government that's slashing other agencies at will). What have we seen or heard from this government that gives the impression that helping needy students go to college is part of their agenda?
I hope I'm wrong, but I have a feeling that like other Departments and agencies, we're about to see things we never could have imagined. Putting someone with zero educational experience in charge of ED with the marching orders "eliminate your own job" says that education is no longer going to be a national priority. That's sad, and it weakens the country.
Melissa C | 2/7/2025 9:17:09 AM
Well this should be interesting...
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