Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, is set to face Congress on Thursday for her confirmation hearing. But her appointment isn't just about leading the Department of Education—it’s about potentially shutting it down. Trump has been vocal about his desire to dismantle the department, raising questions about the future of federal education oversight in the United States.
The Unusual Job Description
Imagine stepping into a leadership role where your primary task is to make yourself obsolete. That’s the situation Linda McMahon finds herself in. As the potential head of the Department of Education, she would be responsible for overseeing schools, managing student loans, and ensuring federal funding reaches the right places. However, even before her confirmation hearing, Trump has made it clear that he wants the department eliminated.
"I told Linda, 'Linda, I hope you do a great job and put yourself out of a job.' I want her to put herself out of a job," Trump told reporters on February 4.
On February 12, he doubled down, calling the Department of Education "a big con job" and stating that it should be shut down "immediately."
The Push to Shift Education Back to the States
Trump and some Republican lawmakers argue that education should be managed at the state level rather than by a federal agency. When he announced McMahon as his nominee in November, he posted on Truth Social that one of her key missions would be to "send Education BACK TO THE STATES."
In line with this vision, Trump has also signed an executive order aimed at promoting "patriotic education" while removing ideologies that conflict with his political stance. However, it’s important to note that the Department of Education does not directly control classroom curriculums.
The Challenges of Shutting Down a Federal Agency
While Trump may want to eliminate the Department of Education, such a move requires congressional approval. Some Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to dissolve the department, but there hasn’t been enough support to push it through.
Meanwhile, Trump has been taking steps to reduce federal agency functions by laying off staff and canceling programs. Recently, he took similar action with the US Agency for International Development.
What Would Be Lost If the Department Shuts Down?
Eliminating the Department of Education wouldn’t just be a bureaucratic change—it would impact millions of students, educators, and institutions. Here’s a look at the department’s key responsibilities and what could happen if it were dismantled.
1. Managing Grants and Student Loans
One of the department’s most crucial functions is overseeing the federal student loan system, which holds a staggering $1.7 trillion in student debt. More than 40 million borrowers rely on the Federal Student Aid (FSA) office to manage loan repayment.
The department also administers several critical funding programs, including:
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The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
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Pell Grants for low- and middle-income students
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Title I funding for schools in lower-income communities
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Support for students with disabilities
If the department were eliminated, these responsibilities would need to be transferred elsewhere. Some Republicans have suggested that the Treasury Department could take over student loan management, but education policy experts argue that such a transition would be extremely complex.
2. Collecting and Analyzing Student Performance Data
Another key function of the Department of Education is gathering data on student outcomes. Through its research arm, the department monitors literacy and math scores nationwide. The National Assessment of Educational Progress has shown troubling declines in reading proficiency among students.
Nat Malkus, a senior fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, previously pointed out that without the department’s oversight, we might not even know how well—or poorly—students are performing.
Additionally, the Institute of Education Sciences funds research on critical issues like teacher quality, education reform, and student success strategies. While state agencies collect their own data, the federal department helps provide a nationwide perspective.
3. Overseeing Schools and Protecting Civil Rights
The Department of Education also plays a vital role in ensuring that schools and colleges comply with civil rights laws. The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) investigates discrimination complaints, including issues related to race, gender, and disability.
For instance, the OCR recently resolved a case concerning anti-Palestinian discrimination on a college campus. The department’s 2024 budget documents show that the OCR received over 22,000 complaints, with projections of more than 23,000 for 2025.
Without the department, it's unclear how these investigations would be handled, though some have suggested shifting responsibilities to other agencies.
The Uncertain Future of Federal Education Oversight
While Trump has made it clear that he wants the Department of Education dismantled, the actual process of doing so remains complicated. Some lawmakers support the idea, but achieving congressional approval is far from guaranteed.
If the department were to be shut down, its responsibilities would have to be reassigned to other agencies—a process that would take time and could cause significant disruption in education policy and funding distribution.
Final Thoughts
Linda McMahon’s confirmation hearing isn’t just about filling a government position; it’s about the future of federal education policy. If Trump’s vision becomes reality, education oversight in the U.S. could undergo one of its most dramatic shifts in history. Whether that’s for better or worse depends on who you ask, but one thing is certain—change is on the horizon.
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