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In her role as former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, Linda McMahon oversaw an enterprise that popularized the “takedown” for millions of wrestling fans. But as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of education, the Trump loyalist may be tasked with taking down the very department Trump has asked her to lead.
If Trump does dismantle the Department of Education as he has promised to do, he will have succeeded at something that President Ronald Reagan vowed to do in 1980. Just like Trump, Reagan campaigned on abolishing the department, which at the time was only a year old. Since then, the Republican Party platform has repeatedly called for eliminating the Education Department, which oversees a range of programs and initiatives. These include special funding for schools in low-income communities – known as Title I – and safeguarding the rights of students with disabilities.
As an education policy researcher who has studied the federal role in addressing student-equity issues, I see the path to shuttering the department as filled with political and practical obstacles. Republicans may therefore opt to instead pursue a series of proposals they see as more feasible and impactful, while still furthering their bigger-picture education agenda.
Department of Education history and roles
By the time Congress established the department in 1979, the federal government was already an established player in educational policy and funding.
Congressional support needed
To dissolve the Education Department, both houses of Congress would have to agree, which is unlikely. In 2023, an amendment was proposed in the House to shut down the department. It failed by a vote of 161-265, with 60 Republicans joining all Democrats in opposing the measure.
Part of a larger education agenda
In the scenario where existing Education Department programs are transferred to other agencies, those programs could continue without being closed or drastically cut. But Trump and Project 2025 have articulated a set of plans that do make radical changes. Trump has said he supports a federal voucher – or a “universal school choice” – plan, likely funded through federal tax credits. This idea is set forth in the proposed Educational Choice for Children Act, which is backed by Project 2025. Perhaps tellingly, Trump’s announcement of the McMahon nomination highlighted school-choice goals; it did not mention abolishing the department.
What we can expect
My expectation is that the Trump administration’s most likely and immediate changes will be in the form of executive orders that alter how laws will be implemented. For example, Trump may use an executive order to remove protections for transgender students.
Conclusion
As for closing the Education Department, which probably would not qualify for the reconciliation process, Secretary-designate McMahon may find that takedown to be a politically difficult one to achieve.
FAQs
Q: What is the Department of Education?
A: The Department of Education is a federal agency responsible for overseeing and funding education programs and initiatives in the United States.
Q: What is the purpose of the Department of Education?
A: The purpose of the Department of Education is to ensure that all students have access to a quality education, regardless of their zip code or socioeconomic status.
Q: Why is the Department of Education under threat?
A: The Department of Education is under threat due to proposed budget cuts and changes to the way education is funded and delivered.
Q: What is Project 2025?
A: Project 2025 is a policy blueprint developed by the Heritage Foundation that outlines a set of education reforms, including the abolition of the Department of Education.
Q: Who is Linda McMahon?
A: Linda McMahon is a former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment and the nominee for secretary of education under President Donald Trump.
Q: What is the Educational Choice for Children Act?
A: The Educational Choice for Children Act is a proposed bill that would allow parents to use federal tax credits to fund their children’s education, rather than relying on the public education system.
