Trump nominee Linda McMahon advances to final floor vote
The Senate has taken a significant step towards confirming Linda McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) who was chosen by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Education. After passing the final procedural hurdle of the confirmation process, McMahon’s nomination will now head to a final Senate vote.
The chamber approved a cloture vote on Thursday afternoon, paving the way for a final floor vote to determine McMahon’s confirmation as head of the Education Department. President Trump handpicked McMahon for this role, expressing his desire to see the department shut down “immediately.”
In addition to wanting McMahon to lead the closure of the Education Department, Trump has also emphasized his intention for her to eventually “put herself out of a job.” The president has been vocal about his concerns regarding the ranking of the United States in terms of education compared to other countries, citing high costs per pupil despite a lower ranking.
McMahon appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee in February, where she highlighted the importance of education in shaping the nation’s success and preparing American workers for the future. Her confirmation hearing was not without controversy, as protesters gathered, discussions arose about transgender athletes in sports, and scrutiny was placed on proposed spending cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk.
Prior to her nomination for Secretary of Education, McMahon co-founded WWE with her husband, Vince McMahon, and served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) until 2019. Following her tenure at the SBA, McMahon stepped down to “return to the private sector.”
As the confirmation process for Linda McMahon moves forward, it will be interesting to see how her leadership could potentially reshape the landscape of education in the United States. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
