Linda McMahon is unwilling to protect students and public schools

WASHINGTON – NEA President Becky Pringle urged the U.S. Senate to reject Linda McMahon as U.S. Secretary of Education because of McMahon’s unwillingness to commit to protect students and strengthen public schools. McMahon’s confirmation hearing took place amidst threats of a looming executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education—a move that would strip critical funding for student programs across the country to push vouchers for private schools.  

McMahon took every opportunity to reiterate her plans to move forward with dismantling programs that will harm our most vulnerable and underserved students. If this anti-public education agenda is enacted, students will face larger class sizes; see fewer resources for at-risk students, the loss of vital services for students with disabilities; cuts to job-training programs, increased costs for higher education; and a rollback of basic civil rights protections. According to some estimates, more than 180,000 educators could lose their jobs if McMahon guts critical funding for those positions that tend to work in and with the most vulnerable student populations.   

“Most of us believe every student deserves the opportunity, resources, and support to reach their full potential no matter where they live, the color of their skin, or how much their family earns. But we didn’t hear any of that today. As I travel around the country, parents and educators tell me their schools need more resources and more opportunities that will help students live into their brilliance. They do not want to gut public education or public schools,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “If confirmed, Linda McMahon will dismantle public education as we know it to fund tax cuts for billionaires. She will push vouchers that take funding from our public schools, where 90 percent of all children and 95 percent of those with disabilities learn and grow. Public funds should stay in our public schools. Our students need an education secretary committed to fully funding the programs that can help them reach their full potential, not siphoning money to send to private schools.”      

In the early weeks of the Trump administration, a series of executive orders have undermined students’ protections, stripping students of their rights and opportunities. Repeatedly when pressed to distance herself from the reckless and illegal executive orders signed by Donald Trump, McMahon simply refused to do so. When asked if she would provide public school students and educators with more resources for public schools, she doubled-down on her commitment to send public dollars to private schools. When asked if she would commit to strengthening public education and protecting students, she would not do so. McMahon even failed to protect funding that helps address the nationwide educator shortage.  

“The Senate must reject Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education. The agenda is clear and dangerous. They want to gut public education and undermine public schools. Whether in Washington, with legal actions and lawsuits, or through grassroots actions in communities across the country, educators will continue to protect our students from this reckless agenda,” concluded Pringle.  

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org