Education Secretary Critiques Teachers Union for Priorities Amid Student Failures
Linda McMahon, the Education Secretary, has expressed her discontent with the National Education Association (NEA), criticizing the organization for focusing on impeaching Donald Trump instead of addressing significant student performance issues in reading and math across the country. McMahon highlighted various initiatives from the Trump administration, including efforts to tackle sexual misconduct among teachers and combat over $2 billion in fraud within K-12 education, aiming to enhance educational outcomes and safeguard taxpayer dollars.
On Sunday, she emphasized the federal government’s determination to confront sexual misconduct involving teachers and other adults working with children in schools nationwide. In an interview, McMahon pointed out that many school districts were opting to reassign rather than dismiss teachers accused of misconduct against students, a practice she firmly disapproved of.
She indicated, “It’s not part of their record or anything, so we have really been cracking down on that as well,” during her appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” McMahon referenced a 2004 review by the Education Department, suggesting that roughly one in ten students from eighth to eleventh grade reported experiencing sexual misconduct by an educator — a statistic encompassing a wide range of inappropriate behaviors beyond the legal definition of sexual abuse.
In related concerns, a report revealed that from 2019 to 2025, California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing did not revoke the licenses of at least 67 educators who had been found to engage in sexual misconduct. Alarmingly, some of these individuals were later hired by different school districts, with many continuing to work in education as recently as May.
Additionally, the Department of Education initiated a Title IX investigation focused on the Los Angeles Unified School District. McMahon previously stated, “Our schools must protect America’s children. Parents should never have to wonder whether their kids’ school employs and protects sexual predators.” She stressed the responsibility of schools receiving federal funding to protect students and accurately report instances of sexual misconduct.
Currently, the department is reviewing an agreement with the United Teachers of Los Angeles, uncovering that it seemed to require the reassignment of teachers credibly accused of various misconducts, as opposed to their outright removal from positions involving students during investigations. The LAUSD and UTLA countered this characterization, arguing that reassignment means keeping an employee away from students, not transferring them. They insisted that termination remains a potential outcome if allegations are substantiated.
Addressing a broader concern, McMahon stated that schools that do not adhere to federal mandates, such as those outlined in Title IX and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, may face enforcement actions, including the possible end to federal funding support. She reiterated a nationwide commitment to eradicating sexual misconduct within schools, emphasizing, “Make no mistake, the Department will fully enforce federal law and employ every resource at its disposal to protect children from sexual predators.” Her conclusion, “This epidemic of nationwide sexual abuse in our schools must end,” underscored the urgency of addressing these issues.
