Education Secretary Nominee McMahon Tells Senators Kim and Warren She “Wholeheartedly” Agrees with Trump’s Plan to Abolish Department of Education

WASHINGTON D.C. –Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.), member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, andSenator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)released responses to committee questions for the record from Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, in which McMahon states that she “wholeheartedly” agrees with Trump’s plans to abolish the Department of Education.
“President Trump believes that the bureaucracy in Washington should be abolished so that we can return education to the states, where it belongs. I wholeheartedly support and agree with this mission,”wrote McMahon.
Text of Questions for the Record (PDF)
“Linda McMahon has made clear her top responsibility is complete and total loyalty to President Trump, including her openness to dissolve the very department she would be confirmed to run,”said Senator Kim. “As the administration’s illegal funding freeze threatens already scarce resources for schools and critical programs, her blind loyalty is dangerous. Instead of treating education as a public good that is a foundation for our society, the Trump administration is trying to demonize it and change it in ways that will leave many children vulnerable. We cannot let them.”
“Linda McMahon has made herself clear: as Secretary of Education, she will do whatever Donald Trump asks her to do—including abolishing the entire department, which supports millions of students trying to receive an education,”said Senator Warren. “Confirming her as Education Secretary would be a disaster for students and teachers in all 50 states.”
McMahon also refused to commit to preserving the Department’s role in carrying out additional responsibilities, including:
McMahon appeared to support the Trump Administration’s federal funding freeze, which continues to cause chaos across the country, responding that, “Every Administration has the right to review all funding obligations and ensure that funding is being distributed in a way that aligns with both Congressional intent and the priorities of the duly elected President of the United States.”
On February 11th, Senators Kim and Warrensent McMahon a 12-page letterwith 65 questions on her policy views ahead of her nomination hearing that week.At the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee nomination hearingon February 13th, Senator Kim defended the multifaceted service of the Department for students and families across the nation and pressed McMahon on President Trump’s plans to abolish it.
Senator Kim works to expand access to opportunity through education as a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP). Kim also sits on the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and the Special Committee on Aging. Learn more about Senator Kim’s service on behalf of New Jerseyhere.

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