What was the outcome of the Senate committee vote on Linda McMahon's nomination as Education Secretary?

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted 12-11 along party lines to advance Linda McMahon's nomination to the full Senate.

What are the concerns regarding Linda McMahon's nomination and Trump's plans for the Education Department?

Concerns include the potential dismantling of the Education Department, which could leave vulnerable students without support, and the administration's stance on issues like transgender sports and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

How does Linda McMahon plan to address key educational programs like Title I and Pell Grants?

McMahon assured that Trump's vision is not to defund key programs but to have them operate more efficiently. She specifically pledged to preserve federal Title I money for low-income schools and Pell grants for low-income college students.

What is Linda McMahon's background in education?

Linda McMahon has limited experience in education, having served on the Connecticut State Board of Education for about a year and as a trustee at Sacred Heart University. She co-founded World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and led two unsuccessful Senate campaigns in Connecticut.

3 sources·Politics

Senate Advances Linda McMahon's Nomination as Education Secretary Amid Controversy

Linda McMahon's nomination to lead the Education Department moves forward in the Senate, despite concerns over Trump's plans to dismantle the agency.

33%

The distribution of story sources: left-leaning (blue), center (light gray), and right-leaning (red).

Reliable

The underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.

Balanced

The underlying sources are either a balanced mix of left and right or primarily centrist.

McMahon has suggested that enforcement of the 1990 law, which mandates disabled students be provided a public education tailored to their individual needs, be shifted to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Trump Education pick Linda McMahon clears committee, setting up confirmation vote
New York Post·1M
Mostly Reliable
This source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
·
Leans Right
This outlet slightly leans right.
McMahon, a billionaire Trump ally and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, brings less experience in education than many others in the role.
WATCH: Senate Health committee votes to advance Trump nominee McMahon as education secretary
PBS NewsHour·1M
Reliable
This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
·
Leans Left
This outlet slightly leans left.
McMahon, a billionaire Trump ally and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, brings less experience in education than many others in the role.
Senate committee advances ex-wrestling CEO Linda McMahon as Trump's nominee for education secretary
Associated Press·1M
Reliable
This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
·
Center
This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.

Updated: Feb 20th, 2025, 5:35 PM ET

Summary

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted 12-11 to advance Linda McMahon's nomination as Education Secretary. McMahon supports Trump's agenda to reorient the department, which he has pushed to abolish, while assuring preservation of Title I and Pell Grant funding. Her past experience and handling of key issues, such as transgender sports and DEI programs, raised concerns among Democrats, who believe Trump aims to undermine public education. The full Senate will now consider her nomination, which has broader implications for educational policy and the department's future.

Perspectives

Compare opinions on this story from liberal (Left), conservative (Right) or center-leaning news organizations.

No center-leaning sources available for this story.

FAQs

A list of follow-up questions readers often ask about this story.