Linda McMahon, the Trump administration’s Education Secretary, is leading a historic effort to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, citing decades of wasteful spending and bureaucratic overreach. McMahon, confirmed in March 2025 along party lines, has branded her role as overseeing the agency’s “final mission” to eliminate what she calls since the department’s creation in 1980. Here’s how she’s executing this plan:
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– : Despite over $1 trillion in federal education funding, student test scores in reading, math, and science have flatlined or declined. McMahon argues the department failed to deliver returns on taxpayer investments, calling it a “progressive social experiment” that prioritized bureaucracy over student outcomes.
– : The Trump administration claims billions were spent on “divisive” diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, “gender ideology” curricula, and administrative bloat instead of core subjects like math and history. Pell Grants and Title I funding for low-income schools are exempt from cuts but could be relocated to other agencies.
– : McMahon recently slashed the department’s workforce by nearly half, firing 1,300 employees and closing civil rights offices. Critics warn these cuts jeopardize enforcement of disability protections and anti-discrimination laws.
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McMahon aims to end Washington’s role in education, empowering states and parents to oversee schools. She argues local leaders—not federal bureaucrats—should set curricula and allocate resources.
– Example: Civil rights oversight could shift to the Justice Department, while disability programs move to Health and Human Services.
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President Trump signed an order directing McMahon to “facilitate the closure” of the Education Department. While Congress must approve its elimination, the order accelerates staff reductions and program transfers.
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The administration has banned DEI programs in federally funded schools and threatened funding for districts teaching critical race theory or allowing transgender athletes to compete. McMahon claims these policies “indoctrinate” students rather than educate them.
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– : Senators like Alex Padilla (D-CA) accuse McMahon of trying to “destroy” public education, warning that defunding the department will hurt low-income and minority students.
– : Advocacy groups, including the American Federation of Teachers, are suing over abrupt grant cancellations and civil rights rollbacks. Judges have temporarily blocked some cuts.
– : While McMahon promises “school choice for all,” critics argue voucher programs divert funds from public schools, risking teacher layoffs and larger class sizes.
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McMahon insists core functions like student loans and special education funding will continue under other agencies. However, her aggressive timeline faces hurdles:
– Congress must approve abolishing the department, which requires 60 Senate votes—a threshold Republicans lack.
– States like California and New York vow to resist federal cuts to DEI and LGBTQ+ protections.
For now, McMahon’s legacy hinges on fulfilling Trump’s pledge to end what he calls “the worst federal agency in history”. Whether her overhaul leaves American education “freer and stronger”—as she claims—or undermines decades of progress remains fiercely debated.
