Linda McMahon, the U.S. Secretary of Education, has been making headlines as she defends the Trump administration's controversial plans to dismantle the Department of Education. At the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego on April 8, 2025, McMahon stated that the agency isn't effectively serving students and it's "time to do something different. And it's not through bureaucracy in Washington where it happens."

The former wrestling executive acknowledged that closing the Department of Education would require congressional approval, saying the agency wants to work with lawmakers as partners. "When there is no longer that Department of Education, there are other agencies that will uphold and provide that," McMahon explained during her summit appearance.

Already, the Department has eliminated roughly half of its workforce, including over 100 union employees from the Institute of Education Sciences, the department's research and data arm. McMahon confirmed that the administration is looking to revamp IES, claiming the growth of the program had led to "mission creep."

Meanwhile, educators across the country have expressed concern about recent policy changes initiated by McMahon's Department. In late March, the Department abruptly informed school districts that the deadline to spend remaining COVID-19 relief funds had already passed and revoked previously granted extensions. Educators described the communication as "unprofessional" and showing "a disconnect of what's really happening in communities."

McMahon has also recently faced criticism for errors during public appearances. Educators have pointed to instances where she referred to artificial intelligence as "A1" and forgot the full name of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), arguing these mistakes reflect poorly on the education field more broadly.

Despite plans to dismantle the Department, McMahon has repeatedly assured that certain programs will be preserved. "The Title One funding isn't stopping. All of that is at the very least the same. It may shift to a different agency," she stated at a recent event when addressing concerns about special needs students.

McMahon, who was confirmed by the Senate in a party-line vote of 51-45 on March 3, 2025, is the fourth woman to lead the Department of Education on a permanent basis since its founding in 1979. Her confirmation coincided with significant budget cuts proposed by the administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which offered staffers $25,000 to resign ahead of a major reduction in force.

Critics worry these actions could negatively impact vulnerable student populations, including children with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, and minority groups, by potentially reducing resources available to support their educational needs.