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As Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon may be tasked with dismantling the very department she is set to lead. The former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO, known for popularizing the “takedown” in wrestling, could play a pivotal role in advancing Trump’s long-stated goal of abolishing the Department of Education.
This objective, first championed by President Ronald Reagan in 1980, has been a recurring theme in Republican platforms. The Education Department oversees key programs, including Title I funding for low-income schools and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which protects students with disabilities. Its closure would mark a significant shift in federal education policy, but the path to achieving it is fraught with challenges.
A History of Federal Education Oversight
Established in 1979, the Education Department emerged from a division of the former Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Since then, it has administered programs like Pell Grants, the G.I. Bill, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provided anti-discrimination protections and additional funding for low-income schools. Over time, these programs became essential pillars of the federal government’s role in education.
Though the department was initially supported by both parties, Reagan labeled it a “bureaucratic boondoggle” during his 1980 campaign. However, its abolition has proven politically unfeasible. A 2023 House vote to dissolve the department failed, with 60 Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. Eliminating it would require congressional approval, and any effort to reassign its functions to other agencies would likely face logistical and legal hurdles.
Project 2025 and the Trump Agenda
Trump’s plans for the department align with recommendations from Project 2025, a policy blueprint backed by the Heritage Foundation. The plan proposes moving programs like Title I and IDEA to the Department of Health and Human Services, vocational education to the Labor Department, and student loans to the Treasury Department. It also outlines controversial cuts, such as ending the Head Start program and transitioning IDEA funds into vouchers for parents.
Additionally, Trump has emphasized cultural issues, pledging to cut funding for schools promoting “critical race theory, gender ideology, or inappropriate political content.” His broader education agenda includes federal school choice initiatives funded through tax credits.
What Lies Ahead
While dismantling the Education Department faces significant barriers, immediate changes may come through executive orders, such as removing protections for transgender students. Budget reconciliation could also facilitate funding cuts and program reallocations. However, as McMahon prepares for her role, achieving a full “takedown” of the department remains a politically complex endeavor.
