Bonamici Introduces Resolution to Impeach McMahon
By Maria Carrasco, NASFAA Staff Reporter
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) on Thursday introduced a resolution to impeach Education Secretary Linda McMahon, stating that McMahon violated her oath of office, illegally transferred the operations of the Department of Education (ED) to other federal agencies without the consent of Congress, and made false statements before Congress.
Last week, Bonamici indicated she would be unveiling this resolution, saying she “will not stand by and let Sec. McMahon destroys the federal programs, funding, and research that are critical to public schools and the millions of students they serve.”
“Secretary McMahon has betrayed students, families, and educators by dismantling and demolishing the Department of Education, something she does not have authority to do,” Bonamici said in a statement. “Congress created the Department and it would take an Act of Congress to shut it down.”
The resolution lists several actions McMahon took since taking office that Bonamici argued go against the law, including creating multiple interagency agreements (IAA) with other federal agencies in an effort to “dismantle” ED. Most notably, ED in March announced an IAA with the Treasury Department with the goal of phasing out other Federal Student Aid (FSA) functions to the agency.
“Although the Department of Education has framed these interagency agreements as ‘partnerships’, Linda M. McMahon has publicly made statements referencing her plan to dismantle and eliminate the Department of Education, demonstrating a willful intent to violate the Department of Education Organization Act,” the resolution reads.
The resolution notes that ED cannot be dismantled, nor can statutory functions be reassigned to another federal agency without an act of Congress.
The resolution also alleges false statements McMahon made before Congress. Specifically, during a February 2025 Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing, McMahon said she would disburse all congressionally appropriated funds in accordance with statute. The resolution notes that, among other instances, McMahon rejected or canceled approximately 100 TRIO grants, and halted $350 million in federal grant funds.
The resolution also claims that McMahon breached public trust by terminating approximately 2,000 employees at ED, which ultimately affected the department’s ability to disburse congressionally-authorized funding in a timely manner, and created significant delays that affected educational programming at elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education.
“Linda M. McMahon has decimated the Department of Education’s capacity to fulfill its statutory responsibilities and created a culture of fear and chaos that has already disrupted and harmed critical educational programming,” the resolution reads. “These actions have breached the public trust in the Department of Education and in Linda M. McMahon as its leader.”
The legislation is cosponsored by 16 House Democrats including Reps. Mark DeSaulnier (Cali.), Maxine Dexter (Ore.), Veronica Escobar (Texas), John Garamendi (Cali), Adelita Grijalva (Ariz.), Jahana Hayes (Conn.), Jared Huffman (Cali.), Mike Quigley (Illi.), Doris Matsui (Cali.), Andrea Salinas (Ore.), Lateefah Simon (Cali.), Mark Takano (Cali.), Shri Thanedar (Mich.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Jill Tokuda (Hawaii), and Nikema Williams (Ga.).
McMahon responded to Bonamic’s resolution last week, calling on Democrats to “do better.”
“It speaks volumes that House Democrats think an impeachable offense is working to improve student outcomes and reduce the federal bureaucracy,” McMahon wrote. “They must not be bothered by chronic failures of our education system that result in historic low test scores, a failed FAFSA form rollout, classrooms shuttered during COVID, designating parents as terrorists, and males in female locker rooms.”
Stay tuned to Today’s News for more updates on this resolution.
Publication Date: 6/26/2026
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