A key panel advanced the nomination of Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Education Department, voting 12-11 to send her nomination to the Senate floor.
The nomination of the former Small Business Administration director and a longtime Trump ally advanced along party lines, with all Republicans voting in support and all Democrats voting against it.
McMahon affirmed during her confirmation hearing last week that shutting down the Department of Education would require congressional approval but also made it clear during her testimony that if confirmed by the Senate she intends to carry out the president’s vision.
JUST IN – HELP Committee officially passes the nomination of Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Education Department, voting 12-11 to send her nomination to the Senate floor. Vote was along party lines.
— Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) February 20, 2025
“Certainly, President Trump understands that we’ll be working with Congress. We’d like to do this right. We’d like to make sure that we are presenting a plan that I think our senators could get on board with, and our Congress to get on board with, that would have a better functioning Department of Education but certainly does require congressional action,” she said in response to questions last week.
Trump has repeatedly said he wants to shut down the department, which was the hearing’s biggest flashpoint last week. The president is expected to sign an executive order that would take steps to eliminate the functions of the Education Department. The order would likely come in two parts: First, it would direct the education secretary to create a plan to downsize the department through executive action, and second, Trump would push Congress to pass the legislation necessary to eliminate the department.
“I find areas of agreement, but I can’t vote for someone who willfully will engage in the destruction of the very agency she wants to lead. That is disqualifying,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) ahead of the vote.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) said McMahon, the former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO, is the perfect nominee to bring the changes needed in the U.S. education system.
“When the Department of Education was first stood up, we were ranked number one in the world, globally, in education, and today we rank 34th, and you think it’s working,” Mullin asked rhetorically. “Our test scores haven’t improved since 1979. They just continue to fall, so with that being said, I’m all for change,” Mullin said ahead of the vote.
McMahon does not have an extensive background in education like most of the previous secretaries did. She is a longtime trustee at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut and spent a year on the Connecticut Board of Education.
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The Republican Party has a 53-47 majority in the upper chamber, which means any of Trump’s Cabinet nominees can only afford to lose three Republicans’ support and still get confirmed. No Republicans have come out against McMahon’s nomination.