How Linda McMahon’s Education Department Plans Could Affect California
Linda McMahon, President Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Department of Education, stood in solidarity with his goal of dismantling the department — an overhaul that could affect how billions of dollars in K-12 funding, financial aid, and student loans flow to California schools and colleges.
K-12 Anti-Poverty Funds
California educators are deeply concerned about how any dismantling would affect the Title I program, which provides K-12 funding to offset the effects of poverty. The department helps to distribute and oversee more than $18 billion in Title I grants. The state receives more than $2.1 billion in Title I grants, with $417 million provided to Los Angeles Unified, the nation’s second-largest school system, according to the California Department of Education.
College Financial Aid: Pell Grants
The department awards more than $120 billion to 13 million students each year to help pay for higher education costs. The largest program provides Pell Grants, which do not have to be repaid, to students with low family incomes. In 2024-25, the maximum Pell Grant was $7,395. McMahon pledged to support Pell Grants, while also hoping to establish a similar program for career and technical training that does not require attending a four-year university. Within the Education Department, more than $1.5 billion is currently set aside for such grants to California students.
Student Loans and Financial Aid Applications
The Education Department oversees the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to determine what kind of federal loans and grants college students are eligible to receive. A revised FAFSA, meant to be easier, turned out to be a debacle last year. The system was beset by glitches, data entry problems, and delays, leading to a 9% dip in first-time aid submissions. This year, many of the problems seem to have been resolved.
Civil Rights
The Office for Civil Rights enforces federal laws prohibiting discrimination in educational programs or activities that receive federal funding. Without a Department of Education, civil rights enforcement would probably transfer to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Dollars for the Disabled and More
States receive more than $14 billion to serve students with disabilities. About $1.33 billion of that goes to California. There’s also more than $4 billion nationally to help individuals with disabilities become gainfully employed and $36 million for the Special Olympics.
Early Education
While the majority of programs related to child care and early education are housed within the Department of Health and Human Services — including Head Start and child-care subsidies for low-income families — the Department of Education also provides support. The department oversees the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which includes funding for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities or developmental delays.
Conclusion
Linda McMahon’s vision for the U.S. Department of Education includes shutting it down, which could have significant implications for California’s education system. The state receives billions of dollars in federal funding each year, and it is unclear how this money would be distributed or overseen under a reorganized education system. McMahon has pledged to support programs such as Title I and Pell Grants, but it is unclear what would happen to other programs, including those that serve students with disabilities, early childhood education, and financial aid.
FAQs
- Will Title I funding still be available to California schools?
- It is unclear how Title I funding would be distributed or overseen under a reorganized education system. McMahon has pledged to support Title I funding, but it is unclear what would happen to the program.
- Will Pell Grants still be available to California students?
- McMahon has pledged to support Pell Grants, but it is unclear what would happen to the program under a reorganized education system.
- How will the reorganization affect students with disabilities?
- It is unclear how the reorganization would affect programs that serve students with disabilities, including those that provide support for early childhood education and financial aid.
- What is the fate of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs?
- Trump’s recent executive order to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs has raised questions about the fate of these initiatives, which include funding for minority students and programs that promote diversity and inclusion.
