Honestly, if you're trying to keep up with the revolving door of Washington D.C., you've probably realized it's a full-time job. Right now, the person sitting at the big desk in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building is Linda McMahon.
She isn't just a newcomer to the scene, though. You might recognize the name from her time as the CEO of WWE or her previous stint running the Small Business Administration. She was sworn in as the 13th United States Secretary of Education on March 3, 2025, after being appointed by President Donald Trump.
Why the Name Sounds So Familiar
It’s kinda wild to think about, but the woman overseeing the nation's schools used to be the driving force behind professional wrestling. Along with her husband, Vince McMahon, she turned a regional wrestling operation into a multibillion-dollar global powerhouse.
But don't let the "Body Slam" history distract you from her actual policy background. Before this role, she served on the Connecticut State Board of Education and was a trustee for Sacred Heart University. She’s been in the room for some big decisions long before she was confirmed for this cabinet position.
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What is the Secretary of Education Doing Right Now?
If you look at what's happening this week—specifically mid-January 2026—McMahon is incredibly busy. She’s currently in the middle of two massive national tours that are basically defining her tenure.
One is called the "History Rocks! Trail to Independence" tour. Since the U.S. is gearing up for its big 250th birthday this year, she’s been hitting schools in all 50 states to talk about civics and history. Just a few days ago, she was in Virginia with Governor Glenn Youngkin, and before that, she was in Rhode Island.
The other big thing is her "Returning Education to the States" tour. This one is more about the "business" of school. She’s essentially trying to decentralize the Department of Education. The vibe she’s going for is basically: "The federal government shouldn't be telling your local principal how to run things."
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The 2026 Policy Pivot
It’s not just about tours, though. There is some heavy policy work happening behind the scenes that actually affects how much you pay for college or what your kids learn in class.
- Higher Education Accountability: On January 9, 2026, the Department reached a "historic consensus" on a new framework. They’re basically looking to hold colleges accountable if their students graduate with massive debt but tiny salaries. If a program doesn't help students earn enough to pay back loans, they might lose federal funding.
- Title IX Battles: This is a huge one. Just yesterday, January 13, McMahon was literally outside the Supreme Court giving a speech while the Justices heard landmark cases about Title IX. She’s been very vocal about "biological reality" in sports, which is a complete 180 from the previous administration's stance.
- Workforce Pell Grants: There’s a big push right now to make Pell Grants available for short-term "workforce" programs. Think trade schools and technical certs rather than just four-year degrees.
Who Came Before Her?
To understand where McMahon is going, you sort of have to remember where we were. Before the 2024 election shook things up, Dr. Miguel Cardona was the Secretary. He was a former teacher and principal from Connecticut.
Cardona’s era was defined by the post-pandemic recovery—getting kids back into physical classrooms and the massive rollout of student loan forgiveness plans. McMahon has basically taken a sledgehammer to most of those initiatives, promising a "hard reset" of the entire system.
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Does the Department of Education Even Need to Exist?
This is the elephant in the room. There’s been a lot of talk from the current administration about potentially eliminating the Department of Education entirely.
McMahon’s role right now is sort of a paradox. She’s leading the department while simultaneously trying to strip away its power and hand it back to the states. It’s a "working myself out of a job" kind of energy.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're a parent, student, or just someone who cares about where the tax dollars are going, here’s what you should actually do:
- Check your State’s Waiver Status: McMahon’s department is currently issuing waivers to states (like Iowa recently) that allow them to bypass certain federal regulations. See if your state is part of the "Returning Education to the States" initiative.
- Monitor the AHEAD Framework: If you are planning on going to grad school or a career college, look up the "Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-driven Workforce Pell" (AHEAD) rules. It might change which programs are eligible for federal loans by the end of this year.
- Local Board Meetings: Since the shift is moving toward "local control," the real power is moving to your local school board. That’s where the curriculum and Title IX fights are going to be settled on the ground.
The landscape is shifting fast. Whether you're a fan of the decentralized approach or worried about the loss of federal oversight, Linda McMahon is the one steering the ship for the foreseeable future. Keeping an eye on those "History Rocks" tour stops might actually give you a chance to see her in person, as she’s committed to visiting every single state before the year is out.