Linda McMahon, former WWE CEO, was confirmed as US education secretary by the Senate, taking over a department that Donald Trump aims to dismantle. Trump, advocating for decentralized education, intends to transfer power to states. McMahon aligns with this viewpoint, stating that federal control is damaging and promoting education freedom. Her confirmation has drawn criticism from Democrats and educators concerned about potential cuts to public education. While conservative groups support the plan to empower local control, challenges remain. Additionally, McMahon faced questions about past scandals involving WWE but dismissed or deflected allegations of misconduct.
Donald Trump’s nominee for US education secretary, Linda McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, was confirmed by the Senate on Monday to take charge of a department the president intends to dismantle.
Trump, who is 78 years old, has pledged to decentralize education as he seeks a second term in the White House, promising to transfer the department’s authority to state governments.
McMahon, now 76, seemed to agree with this approach when she told the Senate education committee earlier in February that “the excessive consolidation of power” in Washington is detrimental to education.
“So, what’s the solution? Fund education freedom, not government,” she stated.
A co-founder of the immensely popular WWE wrestling organization, McMahon was with the company from 1980 to 2009, during which time she held the roles of president and chief executive.
She also held a position in Trump’s first administration as the head of the Small Business Administration.
Trump’s proposal to eliminate the education department has sparked outrage among Democrats, teachers’ unions, and numerous parents, who view it as an assault on the public education system.
Reinforcing his plan, Trump had previously instructed McMahon to “put herself out of a job.”
“The American public does not want to see cuts to education, which would lead to higher property taxes. But that is the risk of confirming Ms. McMahon,” argued Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Conservative organizations applaud the initiative to dismantle the department as a necessary step to restore local control over American classrooms.
However, they admit that the process of downsizing the extensive department will be challenging.
During McMahon’s confirmation hearing, Senator Bernie Sanders emphasized that the department “provides essential resources for 26 million children in this country who attend high-poverty school districts.”
He claimed it is “the responsibility of the federal government to ensure every child in America, regardless of their socio-economic status, receives a quality education.”
McMahon, a significant donor to the Republican Party, has financially supported Trump’s political endeavors since 2016.
She is married to Vince McMahon, a prominent figure in WWE, which was established in the 1950s and combines scripted wrestling with intricate stunt work and dramatic storylines.
The nominee faced inquiries regarding the WWE “ring boys” controversy, where it is alleged that teenage employees were sexually assaulted by a ring announcer in the 1980s and 90s.
Five former ring boys filed a civil lawsuit against the McMahons in October, claiming they were aware of the assaults but did nothing to intervene.
Linda McMahon’s legal representatives dismissed the allegations as “baseless.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune called her an “accomplished businesswoman and public servant.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)