In a recent development, Linda McMahon, former World Wrestling Entertainment chief executive and head of the Small Business Administration during President Donald Trump's first term, has been confirmed as the Secretary of Education.
The Senate's decision, which came after a smooth confirmation hearing, was marked by a 51 to 45 vote in favor of McMahon.
According to The Washington Free Beacon, McMahon's confirmation comes in the wake of President Trump's swift implementation of executive orders aimed at curbing anti-Semitism and DEI initiatives in higher education. The Department of Education, under Trump's administration, initiated investigations into allegations of "widespread antisemitic harassment" at Columbia University and four other institutions following the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023. The department also withdrew $15 million in federal grants designated for diversity programs at three universities. Concurrently, the Department of Justice established a task force to eliminate anti-Semitic harassment in schools and college campuses.
During her confirmation hearing, McMahon made a firm commitment to address the issue of campus anti-Semitism. She warned that universities failing to ensure the safety of Jewish Americans could face defunding. McMahon also expressed her intent to revoke the visas of foreign students who express support for Hamas. Furthermore, she indicated her openness to the establishment of an anti-Semitism commission to monitor universities' progress in tackling this issue.
McMahon expressed her concern over the violence on campuses, stating, "I think that, by far, what we saw happening on our campuses was absolutely deplorable. Kids locked in libraries, afraid to come out. Now, I believe in freedom of speech on campusopen debateand we should encourage that, but we cannot allow violence happening on our campuses. That puts all students in an unsafe place."
She further emphasized the need for strong measures to prevent such incidents, stating, "And if I were confirmed as the secretary of education, I would want to make sure that the presidents of those universities and those colleges are taking very strong measures not to allow those to happen. They can call in the police; they can do whatever they need to do, set standards, and to make sure those standards are upheld. We cannot allow that kind of violence to take place on our college campuses."
McMahon also voiced her criticism of DEI initiatives, arguing that they foster segregation within universities. "It was put in place ostensibly for more diversity, for equity and inclusion, and I think what were seeing is that its having an opposite effect. We are getting back to more segregating of our schools instead of having more inclusion in our schools," she said.
In response to Democrats' concerns about President Trump's pledge to dismantle the Department of Education, McMahon assured that any such move would necessitate congressional approval and that federal funding for schools and universities would remain intact.
McMahon's vision for education is clear: "Fund education freedom, not government-run systems. Listen to parents, not politicians. Build up careers, not college debt. Empower states, not special interests. Invest in teachers, not Washington bureaucrats."
With a history of serving on the Connecticut board of education and as a longtime trustee at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., McMahon's experience in the education sector is extensive. She also held the position of chair at the America First Policy Institute. McMahon's confirmation as Secretary of Education signals a new direction for the Department of Education, one that prioritizes student success and freedom in education over bureaucratic control.
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