So, you’re looking into who is the head of the US Department of Education right now. Honestly, it’s a bit of a wild time to be asking. As of early 2026, the person holding the keys to the LBJ Building in D.C. is Linda McMahon. Yes, that Linda McMahon. If the name sounds familiar because you grew up watching wrestling, you’re not imagining things. She’s the former CEO of WWE, but her role in the federal government these days is about as far from a wrestling ring as you can get—sorta.
Actually, some might argue that the current political landscape in education feels a bit like a main-event brawl.
McMahon was sworn in as the 13th U.S. Secretary of Education on March 3, 2025. She was picked by President Donald Trump at the start of his second term, and her tenure has been anything but "business as usual." Most secretaries come in with a list of programs they want to grow. McMahon? She basically arrived with a mandate to "work herself out of a job."
The Woman Behind the Desk: Who is Linda McMahon?
People usually have one of two reactions when they find out who is the head of the US Department of Education. They either remember her business empire or her time running the Small Business Administration (SBA) from 2017 to 2019.
She isn't a lifelong academic. She didn't spend thirty years as a university provost or a school superintendent. She has a French degree from East Carolina University and did a stint on the Connecticut State Board of Education back in 2009. But mostly, she’s a business person.
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President Trump chose her because he wanted a "disruptor." The administration's goal isn't just to tweak federal education policy; they’ve been very vocal about wanting to shut the whole department down. Now, that’s easier said than done—you need an Act of Congress to actually abolish a cabinet-level agency—but McMahon is currently leading what she calls the "Returning Education to the States" tour.
What She’s Actually Doing Right Now (2026 Update)
If you follow the news, you’ve probably seen her popping up in middle schools in Kentucky or high schools in New York. She’s currently on a 50-state tour.
The History Rocks! Initiative
One of her big pushes right now is something called the "History Rocks! Trail to Independence." It’s a nationwide effort to change how American history and civics are taught. The idea is to promote "patriotic education" ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary later this year.
It’s controversial, obviously. Critics say it’s a way to push a specific, conservative-leaning version of history into classrooms. Supporters say it’s about time kids learned to be proud of their country again. McMahon herself has been pretty blunt about it, saying patriotism is "low" and that the department needs to help fix that.
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Shifting Power to the States
This is the big one. McMahon is actively working to move federal programs over to other agencies like the Department of Labor or the Department of the Interior. The goal is to shrink the Department of Education’s footprint until there’s almost nothing left.
- Interagency Agreements: She recently signed deals to move K-12 and workforce training oversight to other departments.
- Workforce Pell Grants: There’s a new focus on "Workforce Pell," which helps students pay for trade schools and certificates rather than just traditional four-year degrees.
- The "Do No Harm" Standard: The department just reached a consensus on a new accountability framework. It’s supposed to hold colleges accountable if their graduates don't end up making enough money to justify the cost of the degree.
The Student Loan Situation
If you have student loans, you definitely need to know who is the head of the US Department of Education because her decisions hit your bank account directly.
Just this week, in mid-January 2026, the department announced it was pausing plans to garnish wages and seize tax refunds for borrowers in default. This was a bit of a surprise. They had planned to start the garnishments this month, but McMahon signaled that they’re hitting the brakes to implement new reforms from the 2025 tax and spending bill.
It's a "wait and see" situation for millions of people. The administration generally favors private lending over federal programs, but they are also under pressure to keep the system from collapsing.
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Why This Matters for Your Kids
Usually, the Secretary of Education is someone most parents can't name. But because McMahon's goal is so radical—literally dismantling the department—her actions are being watched like a hawk by local school boards.
If federal funding starts to look different, or if Title IX investigations (which her office is currently ramping up in places like California) change how schools handle sports and gender identity, your local district will feel it. She's currently investigating several states for their policies on transgender participation in athletics, which is a major shift from how things were handled a few years ago.
Honestly, whether you love her or hate her, Linda McMahon is probably the most influential head of this department in decades because she's trying to change the very foundation of how the federal government interacts with schools.
Actionable Insights for 2026:
- Track Your Loans: If you're in default, the current pause on wage garnishment is a temporary reprieve. Don't assume it's permanent. Check studentaid.gov for the new "Workforce" repayment options being rolled out.
- Local Curriculum: If you care about how history is taught, keep an eye on your local school board meetings. The "History Rocks!" tour is encouraging districts to adopt new civics materials that might differ significantly from previous years.
- FAFSA Changes: If you have a kid heading to college in 2026-2027, the department is bragging about the earliest FAFSA launch in history. Get your application in early, as the formulas for "Workforce Pell" are brand new this year.
The "final mission" McMahon often talks about is returning all power to the states. Whether that happens or not depends on Congress, but for now, she's the one steering the ship.