Trump’s Education Secretary Discusses Government Shutdown Impact
Linda McMahon, the Secretary of Education under President Donald Trump, stated that the recent 43-day government shutdown highlighted the significance of the Department of Education’s role. In an editorial, she reinforced Trump’s campaign commitment to dismantle the department and transfer more authority back to states and local entities. Trump humorously suggested that McMahon should “get out of business,” and earlier this year, he signed an executive order aimed at dissolving the department. However, officially terminating it would necessitate congressional action since it was established by President Jimmy Carter 45 years ago.
She pointed out that during the shutdown— which was the longest in U.S. history— families observed that the federal education framework was largely unnecessary. “Students kept attending classes, teachers were still paid, and school activities proceeded without interruption,” McMahon noted.
According to her, the shutdown confirmed a long-standing conservative belief: the U.S. Department of Education primarily acts as a conduit for funding that states can manage more effectively. With the government reopened, McMahon expressed a renewed commitment to fulfilling Trump’s promise to return educational authority to the states.
McMahon clarified that the elimination of the department wouldn’t strip away federal support for education, despite claims from some critics, including teachers’ unions. “This just means moving away from centralized bureaucracies that micromanage state responsibilities,” she explained. Key functions like funding for low-income and disabled students have been in place before the department’s inception and will persist regardless of whether the department exists.
She further outlined that the department is cooperating with various agencies to improve operations, promote career readiness, and uphold federal anti-discrimination laws in higher education. “This administration is actively reforming the federal education system to demonstrate that there are more effective ways to deliver quality education,” McMahon asserted. She positioned these reforms as initial steps toward legislative changes that would solidify these adjustments.
McMahon emphasized the importance of shifting power away from federal oversight to empower local leaders to develop educational programs that lead to successful career paths. “The stakes couldn’t be higher for our students,” she added.
In April, Senate Republicans presented a bill aiming to abolish the Department of Education, aligning with Trump’s executive orders, which was forwarded to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
