Impeachment Plans Against Education Secretary
Democratic Representative Suzanne Bonamici from Oregon has put forth a rather bold proposal to impeach U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. In a press release issued on Wednesday, Bonamici’s office stated that, “Secretary McMahon has betrayed students, families, and educators by dismantling and demolishing the Department of Education, something she does not have authority to do.” McMahon, however, argues that Democrats are completely missing the bigger picture.
Bonamici’s statement points to the Trump administration’s actions, claiming they are damaging the Department of Education without any Congressional approval and detrimental to students, families, and educators. “This must end now,” she emphasized.
She also mentioned that it would take an Act of Congress to disband the Department, underscoring the fact that around 90 percent of students in the U.S. attend public schools. “Students have the right to equal access without discrimination, and students with disabilities deserve a free and appropriate education,” her office highlighted. Bonamici asserted, “I will not stand by and let Sec. McMahon destroy the federal programs, funding, and research that are critical to public schools and the millions of students they serve.”
Interestingly, Bonamici has received attention in the past for her position on allowing men to compete in women’s sports as the ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
In response, McMahon made a statement expressing disbelief that House Democrats would consider efforts to enhance student outcomes and lessen federal oversight as impeachable. “They must not be bothered by chronic failures of our education system that lead to historically low test scores and other issues,” she remarked. McMahon also pointed out that despite federal spending exceeding $3 trillion since the Department’s inception in 1980, only one-third of students can read proficiently. “To the Democrats in Congress: do better,” she remarked in her statement.
Bonamici’s impeachment announcement comes on the heels of the U.S. Department of Education revealing plans to transfer its civil rights office to the Department of Justice and its special needs programs to the Department of Health and Human Services. This partnership aims to strengthen enforcement actions concerning anti-discrimination laws. McMahon explained that the collaboration with HHS will focus on improving academic outcomes and aiding individuals with disabilities in achieving greater independence and life skills.
