You might know her from the bright lights of World Wrestling Entertainment or the high-stakes world of the Small Business Administration, but right now, Linda McMahon is the person in charge of the Department of Education. It sounds like a plot twist from a TV drama. A wrestling mogul running the nation’s schools? Honestly, when the news first broke that President Trump had nominated her for his second term, the internet basically had a collective meltdown. But here we are in 2026, and she is officially the 13th U.S. Secretary of Education.
She isn't just "occupying" the office, though. She’s actively trying to change what the office even does. If you've been following the headlines, you know the vibe is very much about "returning education to the states." It's a huge shift from the previous administration's focus under Miguel Cardona, and it’s causing a massive stir in school districts from Maine to California.
Who is in charge of the Department of Education and what is their plan?
Linda McMahon took the oath on March 3, 2025. Since then, her "Returning Education to the States Tour" has been hitting schools across the country. Just recently, in January 2026, she was spotted at Exeter-West Greenwich Regional in Rhode Island, talking to art students and promoting her vision.
The plan? It’s pretty radical.
She isn't just looking to tweak a few rules. McMahon is essentially leading a "final mission." The administration has been very vocal about wanting to overhaul—and eventually dismantle—the federal Department of Education. They want to ship the power (and the money) back to state capitals. McMahon often says that "disruption leads to innovation," and she’s definitely disrupting things.
The core of her philosophy revolves around three big pillars:
🔗 Read more: The Faces Leopard Eating Meme: Why People Still Love Watching Regret in Real Time
- Parental Choice: Pushing for universal school choice and vouchers.
- Workforce Readiness: Moving away from "college for everyone" toward skills-based training and Pell Grants for trade schools.
- The "Back to Basics" approach: Refocusing curriculum on math, reading, and history while stripping away programs related to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion).
The Power Players Under McMahon
While she’s the face of the department, she isn't flying solo. You’ve got people like Nicholas Kent, the Under Secretary, who is currently spearheading a new accountability framework for colleges. Then there's Kirsten Baesler, the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, who has been working on deepening partnerships with the Department of Labor to get more high schoolers into apprenticeships.
It’s a business-minded crew. They treat the education system less like a sacred public institution and more like a service that needs to be "right-sized" and "decentralized."
Why the wrestling background actually matters (kinda)
Critics love to point at the WWE years as proof she’s unqualified. But McMahon’s supporters see it differently. They see a CEO who grew a regional business into a global powerhouse. To them, she’s the ultimate "fixer" who can cut through the red tape that has supposedly bogged down American schools for decades.
Before her WWE days ended, she actually served on the Connecticut State Board of Education back in 2009. It was a short stint, but she often points to it as the moment she realized how much "bureaucracy" stands in the way of teachers.
Honestly, the contrast between McMahon and her predecessor, Miguel Cardona, couldn't be sharper. Cardona was a career educator—a teacher, a principal, a commissioner. He fought for student loan forgiveness and federal protections for LGBTQ+ students. McMahon is the polar opposite. She’s already moving to peel back those Title IX expansions and has proposed cutting the department's budget by roughly 15% for the 2026 fiscal year.
💡 You might also like: Whos Winning The Election Rn Polls: The January 2026 Reality Check
What this means for your local school
You might be wondering, "Does this actually change anything for my kid's classroom?"
The answer is: Yes, but maybe not in the way you think. Because the federal government only provides about 10% of K-12 funding, McMahon can’t just snap her fingers and change your local math curriculum. However, she can change the strings attached to that 10%.
By pushing for "Workforce Pell" and shifting funds toward charter schools, the department is incentivizing states to follow the Trump administration's lead. If your state is already leaning toward school choice, you’re going to see a lot of federal support. If your state is fighting it, you might see a legal tug-of-war over federal grants.
The Elephant in the Room: The Shutdown
We have to talk about the fact that McMahon is leading a department she has explicitly said she’s willing to help close. It’s a bit like a captain being hired to dismantle the ship while it’s still at sea.
In March 2025, she testified that dissolving the department would require an act of Congress. Since then, the strategy has shifted toward "interagency agreements." For example, the Department of Education has been handing over certain tribal education duties to the Department of the Interior. It’s a "death by a thousand cuts" approach to federal oversight.
📖 Related: Who Has Trump Pardoned So Far: What Really Happened with the 47th President's List
Real-world impact and controversy
It hasn't been a smooth ride. Groups like EdTrust have called her a "dire threat" to equitable access. They worry that if the federal government steps back, students with disabilities and those in low-income rural areas will lose the "watchdog" that ensures they get a fair shake.
On the flip side, Republican lawmakers like Rep. Tim Walberg have hailed her for "standing up for parents." The divide is deep. There's no middle ground here.
Actionable Insights: What to watch for next
If you're trying to navigate this new landscape, here’s what you should keep an eye on:
- Monitor State Legislation: Since the power is moving to the states, your local state legislature is now more important than ever. Watch for "Parental Rights" bills and school voucher expansions.
- Trade School Opportunities: If you have a high schooler, look for new "Workforce Pell" grants. The department is making it much easier to get federal money for short-term certificate programs and trade schools.
- Title IX Changes: Be aware that the federal protections for transgender students that were expanded under the Biden administration are being systematically rolled back. This will likely lead to local school board battles over sports and bathroom policies.
- FAFSA Overhaul: After the disastrous FAFSA rollout a couple of years ago, McMahon has prioritized a "total tech overhaul" of the system. Check the official ed.gov site early if you have a college-bound student, as the deadlines and forms are being simplified (theoretically).
The Department of Education in 2026 is a very different beast than it was just two years ago. Whether you think Linda McMahon is the hero the system needs or the person who will break it, there's no denying she's in charge and moving fast.
Check your state's Department of Education website to see how they are responding to the new federal "Returning Education to the States" grants.
Review the updated FAFSA 2026-2027 guidelines to see if your student qualifies for the new "Workforce Pell" trade school vouchers.
Contact your local school board to find out if they are adopting the new "History Rocks" civics curriculum promoted by the federal government.