(Scypre.com) – President-elect Donald Trump has announced Linda McMahon as his nominee for Secretary of the Department of Education. The decision, unveiled Tuesday evening, follows McMahon’s tenure as co-chair of Trump’s transition team. This appointment positions McMahon to potentially lead significant reforms in U.S. education policy, a hallmark of Trump’s campaign rhetoric.
McMahon’s nomination emerged after she was passed over for the role of Commerce Secretary, a position awarded to Howard Lutnick earlier the same day. Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, had initially been considered for Treasury Secretary but shifted focus to Commerce. Trump’s selection of McMahon, who brings a blend of business acumen and political loyalty, underscores his administration’s emphasis on restructuring federal agencies.
“Linda will use her decades of leadership experience and her deep understanding of both education and business to empower the next generation of American students and workers,” Trump stated. “We will send education back to the states, and Linda will spearhead that effort.”
Linda McMahon is no stranger to high-profile roles. She previously served as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) from 2017 to 2019 during Trump’s first term. Her tenure at the SBA was marked by efforts to streamline processes for small businesses and foster economic growth.
Beyond her government service, McMahon is perhaps best known for her role as the former CEO of WWE, the global wrestling entertainment powerhouse she co-founded with her husband, Vince McMahon. Under her leadership, the WWE grew from a regional operation into a publicly traded media empire. She stepped down as CEO in 2009.
McMahon has also been active in Republican politics. A two-time U.S. Senate candidate in Connecticut, she self-funded both campaigns, investing nearly $100 million across her 2010 and 2012 bids. Additionally, McMahon has been a significant donor to pro-Trump super PACs, contributing over $7 million during Trump’s first presidential run.
Since leaving the SBA, McMahon has chaired America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC, and co-founded the America First Policy Institute (AFPI). AFPI, described as a “White-House-in-waiting,” has been crafting potential policy proposals for Trump’s second term.
McMahon’s appointment comes amid Trump’s broader ambition to reshape the Department of Education. During his campaign, Trump advocated for reducing federal involvement in education, transferring more authority to state governments. While eliminating the department entirely would require Congressional approval—a challenging feat—efforts to decentralize its functions remain likely.
The department’s future under McMahon could include rolling back changes made by the Biden administration to Title IX, particularly policies expanding protections for LGBTQ+ students. Trump has voiced opposition to allowing transgender students to compete in women’s sports, a stance he repeatedly emphasized on the campaign trail.
Overseeing the Department of Education will be no small task. The agency manages critical functions such as federal funding for K-12 schools and the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. Redirecting these resources with fewer federal conditions, as many Republicans propose, will require navigating bureaucratic and legislative hurdles.
Despite the challenges, McMahon’s supporters believe her unique blend of business savvy and political dedication positions her to drive impactful change. Critics, however, question whether her experience aligns with the complexities of the role, given her background in business and wrestling entertainment rather than education policy.
McMahon’s selection reflects Trump’s ongoing reliance on trusted allies who share his vision for reshaping federal institutions. With her proven leadership in both the public and private sectors, McMahon now faces the monumental task of aligning Trump’s education goals with the realities of governing.
As McMahon prepares to take the reins, her leadership will undoubtedly shape not only the Department of Education but also the broader national conversation about the future of American schooling.