Education Secretary Linda McMahon told Daily Coller on Tuesday that she and President Trump prepared for his second term in the White House, she “completely recognizes” her job in managing was to eliminate her own status.
Trump signed the executive order on Thursday, instructing the Secretary of Education to “take all necessary steps to promote the closure of the Department of Education. Both Trump and McMahon spoke about eliminating departments entirely that require Congressional approval. McMahon told callers he knew she was signing up for temporary work when Trump spoke to her about taking a top education post.
“Please note that I was also co-chaired on the transition committee, so I was fully on board with everything. [president’s ] Noting that Trump was constantly promoting plans on the campaign trail, McMahon asked me about his willingness to do so, “I was totally aware of the work I was assuming, and fully aware that he was very clear with me and I asked me about my willingness to do it.”
“He always knew his interest in education. The fact that I had served on the university’s board of trustees for 16 years and served on the state board of education in Connecticut.
Trump’s executive order doesn’t tell McMahon where to move each function in the department, but that’s what the secretary is seeing, she previously told callers. For example, McMahon suggested that the Civil Rights Office could end up with the Department of Justice. (Related: Exclusive: Linda McMahon is preparing to close the Department of Education in accordance with Trump’s orders)
“The Department of Justice already has the Civil Rights Office, and I think we’ll have the opportunity to discuss with Attorney General Bondy about placing some of our civil rights activities there.” @edsecmcmahon Please tell me what will happen to the Civil Rights Bureau… pic.twitter.com/w3pecx5z6a
– Reagan Reese (@Reaganreese_) March 20, 2025
The administration repeatedly pointed to previous students’ achievement scores in justifying its decision to dismantle the education sector. The latest national assessment of educational advancement data released in January showed that in 2024, one-third of eighth graders, the largest percentage on record, failed to meet reading-level expectations. Reading students’ scores have been declining since 2019. (Related: The rising levels of English-speaking students may be driving reading test scores across the country to the ground)
“Since 1979, the US Department of Education has spent over $3 trillion and virtually nothing,” White House said. I wrote it With a fact sheet. “There was virtually no measurable improvement in student performance despite an increase in local spending by more than 245% over that period.”
Joined by children sitting at school desks, US President Donald Trump will hold an executive order signed on March 20, 2025 to reduce the size and scope of the education sector at a ceremony in the Eastern Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Trump’s executive order calls for the division to be dismantled, but both he and his secretary spoke about x the federal sector. McMahon told reporters Tuesday that her department will not only work with Congress on the demolition of the demolition, but also codification of the president’s executive order.
“So working with Congress, I met with the Senator yesterday. We had a really good conversation because he was one of the first conversations to go out and take the Department of Education and make sure the state is more responsible for their programs,” McMahon told reporters.
“And Senator Cassidy and I, he chairs the Health Committee and he wants to introduce legislation. [to eliminate the department] Similarly, we lock in what they are stepping in with the council before they vote for it. Ultimately, it will convince them that the best education they can provide to students is at the state level rather than the bureaucracy of Washington,” she added.
