Statement from All4Ed CEO Amy Loyd on the Confirmation of Linda McMahon as U.S. Secretary of Education and the Trump Administration’s Assault on Public Education
March 3, 2025
Washington, D.C. – “This evening, the U.S. Senate confirmed Linda McMahon as our new U.S. Secretary of Education. While All4Ed opposed her nomination on the basis of the Trump Administration’s concerning policy agenda for public education, we now urge Congress and our nation to hold Ms. McMahon accountable to the commitments she made to support public education during her committee hearing—such as maintaining education funding, protecting critical programs such as Title I and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), supporting advancements in career pathways and workforce efforts, and ensuring our schools offer mental health supports to our nation’s children.
“President Trump’s repeated threats to dismantle the Department of Education represent a direct assault on the fundamental right of every child to receive a quality public education. Eliminating the Department would strip away essential resources and protections for students with disabilities, students from low-income families, and English learners, undermining decades of progress toward educational equity.
“In just a short time, the Trump Administration has taken alarming steps to dismantle critical services and protections for LGBTQIA+, Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students, by issuing confusing and intimidating non-regulatory guidance on diversity, equity, and inclusion and cutting important and innovative grant programs. The administration has also effectively transformed the Office of Civil Rights—intended to protect all of our students from discrimination and harassment—to be an arm of investigating and combatting any policies or practices that celebrate our students’ backgrounds and histories (diversity); that provide our students with what they need to thrive, in the way that they need it (equity); and that provide safe and welcoming spaces for our students to bring their full selves to learning (inclusion).
“During her confirmation hearing, Chairman Bill Cassidy and Ranking Member Bernie Sanders both reminded Ms. McMahon that the administration cannot unilaterally close the Department. Congress established the Department of Education by law. Yet, the administration’s actions make it clear that they will do everything possible to strip the Department of its power and effectiveness. In November, All4Ed conducted a national poll where 58% of all voters – including a slight majority of Trump supporters – oppose eliminating the Department of Education. In fact, 68% of these same voters’ support increasing federal funding for our nation’s public schools.
“The Department of Education is not a political pawn. Ms. McMahon has an obligation to listen to the vast majority of Americans who support public schools and reject efforts to weaken the Department. All4Ed remains committed to advocating for policies that promote equity and excellence in education, and we will continue to hold this administration accountable to the students, families, and educators it serves.”
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