Battling 'gender confusion' and DEI: Anticipating Actions from Trump's Choice for Education Secretary
Linda McMahon has expressed moderate perspectives on education, in contrast to the views of the organization she leads.
TroibNews 
Donald Trump could have considered numerous firebrand state superintendents, policy experts, or former governors to lead the Education Department, which he has expressed a desire to eliminate.
However, the president-elect has chosen a billionaire donor lacking classroom experience to oversee federal education policy once again.
At first glance, Linda McMahon seems quite similar to her predecessor, Betsy DeVos. As the Trump transition co-chair and former pro wrestling executive, she would bring a new wealthy outsider perspective to the department. The nation's largest teachers' union has even labeled her “Betsy DeVos 2.0.” Despite this, McMahon remains largely undefined in her positions on educational issues and the contentious cultural battles, including those related to transgender student rights that DeVos avidly engaged in.
“I really would prefer if everyone would take a deep breath, wait to see how McMahon talks about her views and approach to the role, and then let’s have the conversation,” suggested Frederick Hess, education director at the conservative American Enterprise Institute.
Her nomination would place a Trump loyalist in this key role, someone who, unlike some of the president-elect's other choices, could potentially face a smooth Senate confirmation. Following a landslide bipartisan confirmation vote, she previously headed the Small Business Administration during Trump's first term.
Although McMahon's career has predominantly been in business, she has spent a year on the Connecticut Board of Education. Her limited engagement with education policy has mostly revolved around alternatives to traditional four-year college degrees, advancing apprenticeships, and increasing Pell Grant eligibility for short-term training programs—topics that enjoy bipartisan backing. Notably, she has not publicly addressed hot-button issues like transgender athletes or book bans, in contrast to other candidates mentioned for the position.
However, the America First Policy Institute, which she leads, likely outlines her potential education agenda. This organization has advocated against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education, sought to limit foreign influence at universities, and criticized local K-12 school districts for allegedly fostering "gender confusion" among children.
“That is the real Project 2025,” remarked a former Senate Republican leadership aide, speaking anonymously to share insights freely. “Those are the people who are really developing what Trump is going to be for.”
DeVos has refrained from commenting directly but has expressed her support for McMahon. The America First Policy Institute directed inquiries about McMahon to the Trump campaign, which has not responded.
In a post on X, McMahon stated, "I've witnessed the transformative power of education, both in the classroom and also in apprenticeship programs. All students should be equipped with the necessary skills to prepare them for a successful future.”
She has criticized DEI mandates in apprenticeship initiatives as costly for businesses and burdensome administratively. However, she has not fiercely condemned DEI during interviews as some of her contemporaries have.
“We ought to make sure that we do have diversity,” she asserted in March, “but to make mandates on apprenticeship programs, it just destroys the opportunity that many businesses would have to train new people.”
Unlike DeVos, McMahon has not made significant statements regarding transgender women in student athletics. Instead, she has posted images of Caitlyn Jenner on her X account after attending a 2016 event held by the American Unity Fund, a conservative organization that champions LGBTQ+ rights.
Such positions have not pacified leaders in teachers' unions, who were quick to voice their discontent with her selection.
“By selecting Linda McMahon, Donald Trump is showing that he could not care less about our students’ futures,” NEA President Becky Pringle stated following the nomination announcement. “Our students and our nation deserve so much better than Betsy DeVos 2.0.”
Conversely, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten expressed uncertainty regarding McMahon's priorities. “Will Linda McMahon support us as we teach students to read? Will she protect kids and families, so that everyone in a school feels welcome and can learn?” Weingarten questioned. “We don’t know the answers to these questions.”
Some Republicans welcomed McMahon’s connection to DeVos. “If being Betsy DeVos 2.0 means being a great manager and advocating for the interests of children and taxpayers, then I would agree with them,” remarked Jim Blew, a former official in the Trump administration’s Education Department and co-founder of the Defense of Freedom Institute, a conservative nonprofit.
McMahon is expected to champion school choice, a top priority for the president-elect. A Republican-controlled Congress is predicted to prioritize the issue, possibly involving federal tax incentives for private school scholarship contributions.
She will likely pursue a regulatory agenda aimed at scaling back Biden-era student debt initiatives and reinstating anti-sex discrimination regulations from the DeVos era. It’s anticipated that she will leverage the department’s civil rights office to target policies that are supportive of transgender students. Additionally, she may attempt to manage the department’s bureaucracy with the assistance of experienced political appointees.
“I don’t think anybody is going to moderate Trump,” indicated the former Republican leadership aide. “She’s going to be easily confirmed. In some ways, she might be one of the least controversial of the nominees. She’s a capable leader. She’s a good communicator. And this is definitely a bureaucracy that needs some significant management.”
While McMahon may navigate the confirmation process more smoothly than some of Trump’s other appointees, one aspect of her history could raise concerns for lawmakers. She was mentioned in an October lawsuit alleging that leaders of World Wrestling Entertainment allowed a ringside announcer to sexually abuse boys as young as 12.
An attorney for Vince McMahon, her husband who was also named in the lawsuit, described the claims as “absurd, defamatory and utterly meritless” in a statement to USA Today.
A prominent Republican involved in overseeing McMahon's confirmation highlighted her administrative credentials as a strength. The Education Department is still struggling to recover from a troubled launch last year of a revamped federal aid application process and student debt relief initiatives hindered by legal challenges.
“She has run an agency which did a lot of loans and one of the dominant issues that’s before the Department of Education is the [federal student financial aid] program,” Senator Bill Cassidy, the incoming chair of the Senate education committee, stated in an interview. “You could argue that is the most important thing right there.”
Rebecca Carballo and Mackenzie Wilkes contributed to this report.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
However, the president-elect has chosen a billionaire donor lacking classroom experience to oversee federal education policy once again.
At first glance, Linda McMahon seems quite similar to her predecessor, Betsy DeVos. As the Trump transition co-chair and former pro wrestling executive, she would bring a new wealthy outsider perspective to the department. The nation's largest teachers' union has even labeled her “Betsy DeVos 2.0.” Despite this, McMahon remains largely undefined in her positions on educational issues and the contentious cultural battles, including those related to transgender student rights that DeVos avidly engaged in.
“I really would prefer if everyone would take a deep breath, wait to see how McMahon talks about her views and approach to the role, and then let’s have the conversation,” suggested Frederick Hess, education director at the conservative American Enterprise Institute.
Her nomination would place a Trump loyalist in this key role, someone who, unlike some of the president-elect's other choices, could potentially face a smooth Senate confirmation. Following a landslide bipartisan confirmation vote, she previously headed the Small Business Administration during Trump's first term.
Although McMahon's career has predominantly been in business, she has spent a year on the Connecticut Board of Education. Her limited engagement with education policy has mostly revolved around alternatives to traditional four-year college degrees, advancing apprenticeships, and increasing Pell Grant eligibility for short-term training programs—topics that enjoy bipartisan backing. Notably, she has not publicly addressed hot-button issues like transgender athletes or book bans, in contrast to other candidates mentioned for the position.
However, the America First Policy Institute, which she leads, likely outlines her potential education agenda. This organization has advocated against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education, sought to limit foreign influence at universities, and criticized local K-12 school districts for allegedly fostering "gender confusion" among children.
“That is the real Project 2025,” remarked a former Senate Republican leadership aide, speaking anonymously to share insights freely. “Those are the people who are really developing what Trump is going to be for.”
DeVos has refrained from commenting directly but has expressed her support for McMahon. The America First Policy Institute directed inquiries about McMahon to the Trump campaign, which has not responded.
In a post on X, McMahon stated, "I've witnessed the transformative power of education, both in the classroom and also in apprenticeship programs. All students should be equipped with the necessary skills to prepare them for a successful future.”
She has criticized DEI mandates in apprenticeship initiatives as costly for businesses and burdensome administratively. However, she has not fiercely condemned DEI during interviews as some of her contemporaries have.
“We ought to make sure that we do have diversity,” she asserted in March, “but to make mandates on apprenticeship programs, it just destroys the opportunity that many businesses would have to train new people.”
Unlike DeVos, McMahon has not made significant statements regarding transgender women in student athletics. Instead, she has posted images of Caitlyn Jenner on her X account after attending a 2016 event held by the American Unity Fund, a conservative organization that champions LGBTQ+ rights.
Such positions have not pacified leaders in teachers' unions, who were quick to voice their discontent with her selection.
“By selecting Linda McMahon, Donald Trump is showing that he could not care less about our students’ futures,” NEA President Becky Pringle stated following the nomination announcement. “Our students and our nation deserve so much better than Betsy DeVos 2.0.”
Conversely, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten expressed uncertainty regarding McMahon's priorities. “Will Linda McMahon support us as we teach students to read? Will she protect kids and families, so that everyone in a school feels welcome and can learn?” Weingarten questioned. “We don’t know the answers to these questions.”
Some Republicans welcomed McMahon’s connection to DeVos. “If being Betsy DeVos 2.0 means being a great manager and advocating for the interests of children and taxpayers, then I would agree with them,” remarked Jim Blew, a former official in the Trump administration’s Education Department and co-founder of the Defense of Freedom Institute, a conservative nonprofit.
McMahon is expected to champion school choice, a top priority for the president-elect. A Republican-controlled Congress is predicted to prioritize the issue, possibly involving federal tax incentives for private school scholarship contributions.
She will likely pursue a regulatory agenda aimed at scaling back Biden-era student debt initiatives and reinstating anti-sex discrimination regulations from the DeVos era. It’s anticipated that she will leverage the department’s civil rights office to target policies that are supportive of transgender students. Additionally, she may attempt to manage the department’s bureaucracy with the assistance of experienced political appointees.
“I don’t think anybody is going to moderate Trump,” indicated the former Republican leadership aide. “She’s going to be easily confirmed. In some ways, she might be one of the least controversial of the nominees. She’s a capable leader. She’s a good communicator. And this is definitely a bureaucracy that needs some significant management.”
While McMahon may navigate the confirmation process more smoothly than some of Trump’s other appointees, one aspect of her history could raise concerns for lawmakers. She was mentioned in an October lawsuit alleging that leaders of World Wrestling Entertainment allowed a ringside announcer to sexually abuse boys as young as 12.
An attorney for Vince McMahon, her husband who was also named in the lawsuit, described the claims as “absurd, defamatory and utterly meritless” in a statement to USA Today.
A prominent Republican involved in overseeing McMahon's confirmation highlighted her administrative credentials as a strength. The Education Department is still struggling to recover from a troubled launch last year of a revamped federal aid application process and student debt relief initiatives hindered by legal challenges.
“She has run an agency which did a lot of loans and one of the dominant issues that’s before the Department of Education is the [federal student financial aid] program,” Senator Bill Cassidy, the incoming chair of the Senate education committee, stated in an interview. “You could argue that is the most important thing right there.”
Rebecca Carballo and Mackenzie Wilkes contributed to this report.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
