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Linda McMahon Nominated for Education Department in Trump’s Second Term

During her time as administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) under President Trump’s first term, Linda McMahon was known for her hands-on approach. She often made informal visits to employees’ offices at the SBA headquarters, a practice she described in a 2017 leadership event as a way to show her concern for the staff, although it sometimes startled them.

As Trump embarks on his second term, he has put forward McMahon’s name to head the Education Department, an agency he has previously sought to eliminate. While any such effort would likely face significant pushback from opposing parties, McMahon’s departure from the SBA was marked by bipartisan recognition of her leadership.

“My hope is that President Trump will nominate a successor who is as committed to advocating for America’s small businesses as Administrator McMahon was,” remarked Senator Ben Cardin from Maryland when McMahon left the SBA in 2019, underscoring her positive impact on the agency.

McMahon’s term at the SBA was particularly challenging due to the impact of three major hurricanes—Harvey in Texas, Irma in Florida, and Maria in Puerto Rico—during her first year in office. The SBA plays a crucial role in providing low-interest loans to help businesses, homeowners, renters, and nonprofits recover from disasters, demanding a swift and efficient response from the agency.

Reflecting on the difficulties of addressing disaster recovery, McMahon noted, “the most daunting thing is helping disaster victims” since new leaders are not afforded a grace period when crises arise. This perspective was shared during her 2017 speech.

A 2020 report from the SBA’s inspector general indicated that despite the immense pressures from consecutive hurricanes, the agency effectively fulfilled its mission. According to the report, within nine days of Hurricane Harvey, the SBA was able to establish disaster and recovery centers. Similarly, within 20 days, the agency set up operations for Hurricane Irma, and within 13 and 33 days, for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, respectively.

Nonetheless, the report pointed out that the SBA faced significant challenges, including a backlog of loan applications, and did not meet its performance goals for responding to inquiries.

McMahon is a staunch ally of Trump, serving as co-chair of his transition team and as board chair for the America First Policy Institute (AFPI). This right-leaning think tank comprises many former Trump administration members and engages in transitional activities similar in nature to past initiatives like the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. Notably, AFPI’s president, Brooke Rollins, has been nominated for the Agriculture secretary role.

While she has primarily focused her career on business, McMahon’s experience in education governance is limited, having served on Connecticut’s Board of Education for less than a year nearly 15 years ago.

In keeping with his previous comments regarding the restructuring of federal bureaucracies, Trump has expressed a desire to remove employees from the Education Department who oppose his administration’s policies. In a recent campaign video, he stated, “On day one, we will begin to find and remove the radicals, zealots, and Marxists who have infiltrated the federal Department of Education.” He further asserted that he would not permit any interference with his agenda regarding the education of American children.

Recent legislative efforts by Republicans, such as those led by Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota, indicate a continued push to transfer various Educational Department functions to other government bodies. The desire to dismantle the Education Department has persisted since the Reagan administration, with former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos also echoing sentiments questioning the agency’s necessity after her departure.

Trump’s statement regarding McMahon’s nomination emphasized her commitment to “fight tirelessly to expand [school choice] to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best educational decisions for their families.” The term “school choice” encompasses various programs that enable parents to select educational options outside their designated public schools, often involving public funding.

Additionally, McMahon has advocated for bipartisan legislative initiatives aimed at broadening Pell Grant eligibility for low-income undergraduate students engaged in qualifying workforce programs, reflecting her commitment to addressing educational needs.

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