WASHINGTON — The Senate is voting Monday on whether or not to verify former wrestling govt Linda McMahon because the nation’s training chief, a job that will place her atop a division that President Donald Trump has vilified and vowed to dismantle.
McMahon would face the competing duties of winding down the Schooling Division whereas additionally escalating efforts to attain Trump’s agenda. Already the Republican president has signed sweeping orders to rid America’s faculties of variety applications and lodging for transgender college students whereas additionally calling for expanded college alternative applications.
On the similar time, Trump has promised to close down the division and mentioned he desires McMahon “to put herself out of a job.”
A billionaire and former CEO of World Wrestling Leisure, McMahon, 76, is an unconventional choose for the function. She spent a 12 months on Connecticut’s state board of training and is a longtime trustee at Sacred Coronary heart College however in any other case has little conventional training management.
McMahon’s supporters see her as a talented govt who will reform a division that Republicans say has failed to enhance American training. Opponents say she’s unqualified and concern her finances cuts shall be felt by college students nationwide.
At her affirmation listening to, McMahon distanced herself from Trump’s blistering rhetoric. She mentioned the purpose is to make the Schooling Division “operate more efficiently,” to not defund applications.
She acknowledged that solely Congress has the facility to shut the division, and he or she pledged to protect Title I cash for low-income faculties, Pell grants for low-income faculty college students, and the Public Service Mortgage Forgiveness program. But she recommended some operations may transfer to different departments, saying Well being and Human Providers may be higher suited to implement incapacity rights legal guidelines.
Weeks earlier than McMahon’s affirmation listening to, the White Home was contemplating an govt order that will direct the training secretary to chop the company as a lot as legally attainable whereas asking Congress to close it down fully. A few of McMahon’s allies pressed the White Home to carry the order till after her affirmation to keep away from potential backlash.
Created by Congress in 1979, the Schooling Division’s major function is to disburse cash to the nation’s faculties and schools.