Education Secretary’s Remarks on Government Shutdown

On Monday, Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the recent government shutdown demonstrated that federal oversight in education is not necessary. She shared a video on social media, asserting that the education system functioned normally throughout the shutdown.

“The government was closed for 43 days, with flights delayed and SNAP benefits running low, yet education—a cornerstone of American family life—was hardly disrupted,” McMahon noted.

President Trump officially ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history last week.

Reevaluating Federal Involvement in Education

“During the shutdown, 90% of the federal Department of Education’s staff was furloughed. So, what was the result? Nothing at all,” McMahon continued. “Schools stayed open, students continued to attend classes, and teachers still received their pay. This situation raises a critical question: if the majority of the governing body for education can be absent for weeks without impacting schools, do we actually need it?”

This view aligns with Trump’s campaign promises in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, wherein he sought to minimize the federal government’s role, particularly by dismantling the Department of Education.

Department of Education’s Future

The Department of Labor has absorbed some workforce programs previously managed by the Department of Education amidst Trump’s efforts to eliminate it. Earlier this year, McMahon reduced the department’s workforce by half, and Trump signed an executive order aimed at closing it altogether.