Staff Reports
Linda McMahon, President Trump’s Education Secretary, made headlines this week when she surprised House Democrats at their own protest against her department’s shutdown. Democrats had gathered outside the Education Department to criticize Trump’s plan to send control of schools back to states and parents. But McMahon walked right into their event, thanking them for coming and calling education a “nonpartisan” issue focused on kids. Democrats tried to corner her about timelines for closing the department, but she avoided specifics, saying only that federal money for programs like Pell Grants would keep flowing.
McMahon has spent months working to dismantle the Education Department as part of Trump’s promise to end federal overreach in schools. She wants states and parents—not Washington bureaucrats—to decide what kids learn. Her “final mission” for the department includes cutting programs tied to “divisive” topics like critical race theory and gender ideology. McMahon says schools should focus on basics like math and science instead of pushing political agendas.
Democrats complained McMahon hasn’t explained how she’ll shut down the department without hurting students. But conservatives argue local leaders can manage schools better than distant politicians. McMahon’s business background—she once ran WWE—shaped her belief that schools should prepare kids for real jobs, not activism. Her critics say she lacks education experience, but supporters point to her time on Connecticut’s school board and work helping small businesses.
President Trump praised McMahon for taking on the tough job of closing the department, calling her a “fantastic” leader. He said firing herself as secretary would be a victory for parents and teachers tired of federal rules. McMahon has already canceled COVID relief extensions for schools, saying states had “ample time” to spend the money. Democrats called the move abrupt, but conservatives cheered it as a step toward fiscal responsibility.
The Education Department’s shutdown is part of Trump’s bigger plan to shrink the federal government. McMahon’s team is reviewing programs to decide which can move to states or vanish entirely. She claims the department hasn’t improved schools despite spending over $1 trillion since 1980. Teachers unions and Democrats warn the changes could harm low-income students, but McMahon insists parents and local leaders will do better without Washington’s interference.
At the protest, McMahon stayed polite but firm. She shook hands with Democrats even as they accused her of lacking a plan. Republicans say this shows she’s focused on solutions, not politics. Trump’s supporters see McMahon as a bulldozer for common-sense reforms, clearing away red tape so schools can get back to teaching.
As the department winds down, McMahon faces lawsuits over her handling of COVID funds and past WWE scandals. But conservatives are rallying behind her, saying she’s finally giving parents a voice after years of liberal control. Her message is simple: let teachers teach, let parents choose, and let communities decide what’s best for their kids.
The clash over education reflects America’s divide between big-government plans and local freedom. While Democrats cling to federal programs, McMahon and Trump are betting that families, not politicians, know how to fix schools. With the Education Department’s days numbered, this fight is just starting—and McMahon’s WWE instincts might be exactly what Trump needs to win it.
