Linda McMahon

2025 - 2 - 13

Linda McMahon: From WWE to the Education Hotseat – Can She Do a Body Slam on Federal Funding?

Civil Rights Laws - Confirmation Hearings - Education Policy - Educational Empowerment - Linda McMahon - Public Schools - Senate - Student Funding - Trump Administration - U.S. Department of Education

Linda McMahon's confirmation hearing sparks debates on education as she dances around Trump’s plans to dismantle the Department of Education. Will she take down the federal agency with a flying elbow drop?

Linda McMahon, the former WWE executive turned political hopeful, recently found herself in the hot seat at a Senate confirmation hearing for her nomination as Secretary of Education under President Trump. With Trump advocating for the dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education, senators had a field day interrogating McMahon about how she planned to uphold educational standards and civil rights while potentially overseeing the dismantling of the very agency she seeks to lead. Imagine trying to win a wrestling match while your opponent is hell-bent on giving up the ring!

During her confirmation process, McMahon emphasized that defunding education programs would not be on her agenda, despite President Trump’s clear intentions to reshape the landscape of American education. Her plans included discussing ways the functions of the department might be divided among other sectors should an overhaul occur, creating a patchwork quilt of education governance that could leave many educators confused and scrambling. "I may not be able to put you in a headlock, but I can still ensure that the students get a fair shot at life!" she might as well have said.

The confirmation hearings were not just about McMahon’s plans; the political climate provided a rich background for debate. With Republican senators like Katie Britt and Mitch McConnell openly critiquing Trump’s spending cuts, the stage was set for some high-stakes political drama - and backhanded compliments. Senators pressed her on how civil rights laws would be enforced in a landscape where the department might no longer exist, leaving McMahon with tough questions and raised eyebrows to dodge.

But wait! Did you know that Linda McMahon's journey to politics isn’t her only claim to fame? Besides founding the WWE, she’s known for her passion for reforming the education system—passion she admits exists even amidst dismantling plans. Another interesting tidbit: the Department of Education was created in 1980 during a time when federal education policy was highly contentious, proving that education has always been a hot topic – no body slam needed!

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Image courtesy of "NPR"

Confirmation hearing for Linda McMahon, Trump's education ... (NPR)

McMahon's confirmation proceedings are likely to focus on how she would handle President Trump's plans to dissolve the U.S. Education Department.

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Image courtesy of "The Associated Press"

Linda McMahon: Trump's education sketches roadmap for ... (The Associated Press)

Linda McMahon on Thursday sketched out how key functions of the Education Department could be carved up to achieve President Donald Trump's goal of ...

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Image courtesy of "CBS News"

Linda McMahon faces confirmation hearing with fate of Education ... (CBS News)

Linda McMahon, President Trump's nominee to become secretary of education, appeared before senators on Thursday.

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Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Linda McMahon steps into nomination ring as Trump's vow to kill ... (ABC News)

WWE co-founder Linda McMahon is in the hot seat on Capitol Hill as she faces questions over her education secretary nomination.

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Image courtesy of "ABC7 Los Angeles"

Trump's pick for education chief seeks approval to lead an agency ... (ABC7 Los Angeles)

Linda McMahon faces an unusual test as she seeks Senate approval to lead an agency the president wants her to destroy.

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Linda McMahon Faces Confirmation Hearing for Education Secretary (The New York Times)

Ms. McMahon, the former wrestling executive and President Trump's education secretary pick, spoke about her priorities for the department.

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Image courtesy of "NBC News"

Linda McMahon to face Senate confirmation hearing to be education ... (NBC News)

Senators pressed Linda McMahon on what it would look like if the Department of Education were dismantled and how she would enforce civil rights laws during ...

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Image courtesy of "NBC News"

Linda McMahon confirmation hearing and cocoa prices affect ... (NBC News)

Plus, Republican lawmakers such as Sens. Katie Britt, Bill Cassidy and Mitch McConnell call out Donald Trump's spending cuts and tariffs as the policies ...

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Image courtesy of "Politico"

Linda McMahon says defunding education programs is 'not the ... (Politico)

The Education secretary nominee appearance before the Senate HELP Committee comes as President Donald Trump wants to close the agency.

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Image courtesy of "NPR"

Linda McMahon faces confirmation hearing. And, Trump, Putin ... (NPR)

What to know about Trump's pick for education secretary, Linda McMahon, who faces her confirmation hearing today. And, Trump agrees to meet with Putin to ...

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Trump's pick for education chief, Linda McMahon, defends plans to ... (Reuters)

President Donald Trump's choice to run the Department of Education, Linda McMahon, advocated for the president's plans to abolish the department at her U.S. ...

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Image courtesy of "The CT Mirror"

Linda McMahon asked if she'd dismantle Department of Education (The CT Mirror)

Greenwich's Linda McMahon, the nominee for secretary of education, said she would 'reorient the department' at her confirmation hearing.

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Image courtesy of "Education Week"

Linda McMahon Says Trump Can't Eliminate Ed. Dept. Without ... (Education Week)

Eliminating the education department wouldn't mean reducing funding for schools, Trump's education secretary nominee said.

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5 Key Takeaways From Linda McMahon's Confirmation Hearing (Education Week)

President Trump's education secretary nominee pledged to maintain school funding even as she works to end the U.S. Department of Education.

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Image courtesy of "Katie Britt"

U.S. Senator Katie Britt: Linda McMahon is the Change Agent Our ... (Katie Britt)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) spoke at a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing today to introduce President ...

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3 Takeaways From the Linda McMahon Hearing (U.S. News & World Report)

Education Department Secretary nominee Linda McMahon offered a wide array of promises to bolster the department amid President Donald Trump's threat to ...

Linda McMahon is unwilling to protect students and public schools ... (National Education Association)

WASHINGTON – NEA President Becky Pringle urged the U.S. Senate to reject Linda McMahon as U.S. Secretary of Education because of McMahon's unwillingness to ...

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NCJW Opposes Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education ... (National Council of Jewish Women |)

February 10, 2025. United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions 428 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 ...

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Image courtesy of "K-12 Dive"

3 takeaways from Linda McMahon's confirmation hearing (K-12 Dive)

Trump's nominee to lead the Education Department faced questions about the agency's future, Title IX enforcement and antisemitism on college campuses.

NASFAA | Senate Questions Linda McMahon on Efforts to Dismantle ... (NASFAA)

“What's the remedy? Fund education freedom, not government-run systems,” McMahon said. “Build up careers, not college debt. Empower states, not special ...

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Linda McMahon pressed on Trump's planned cuts to the Department ... (PBS NewsHour)

It was a big day for President Trump's team and some of his most controversial choices. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as the Secretary of Health and ...

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How Linda McMahon's Education Department plans could affect ... (Los Angeles Times)

Linda McMahon, President Trump's education secretary nominee, wants to dismantle the department. What that means for California's K-12 funding, ...

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Image courtesy of "National Education Association"

What We Learned from Linda McMahon's Confirmation Hearing | NEA (National Education Association)

The nominee is ready to dismantle the Department of Education and steer federal funds away from public schools to pay for private school vouchers and tax ...

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Image courtesy of "Higher Ed Dive"

3 takeaways from Linda McMahon's confirmation hearing (Higher Ed Dive)

Trump's nominee to lead the Education Department faced questions about the agency's future, Title IX enforcement and antisemitism on college campuses.

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