Linda McMahon is scheduled to appear before a Senate committee on Thursday for her confirmation hearing to become Secretary of Education, NBC News reports.
The hearing occurs as President Donald Trump has publicly suggested dismantling the very department she seeks to lead.
McMahon, 76, is a businesswoman and political figure. She previously served as the chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), a company founded by her husband, Vince McMahon, a known supporter of Trump. She also served as the head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term and later led several pro-Trump political organizations.
The Education Department has recently faced scrutiny, including claims from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency that it canceled $881 million in contracts.
Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, particularly Democrats, are expected to question McMahon about her policy positions. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member on the committee, indicated his questioning would likely focus on issues such as the potential privatization of public education, teacher pay raises, and the preservation of programs in low-income school districts.
Prior to her nomination, McMahon served for four years as chair of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank aligned with Trump that advocates for redirecting federal education funds toward private schools, reducing the influence of teachers unions, and promoting skills-based technical career training. Several early appointments within the Education Department have come from this think tank.
McMahon’s stance on eliminating the Department of Education remains unclear. Trump recently stated his desire to close the department, calling it “a complete con job,” and has expressed hope that McMahon would “put herself out of a job.”
McMahon left WWE in 2009 and subsequently ran unsuccessfully for Senate in Connecticut in 2010 and 2012. She has also faced criticism for WWE’s past handling of steroid use and the content of its productions.
In addition to her work with the America First Policy Institute, McMahon serves on the boards of several organizations, including Sacred Heart University, America First Works, The Daily Caller News Foundation, and Trump Media & Technology Group (the parent company of Truth Social). Her financial disclosure report indicates she received $55,200 from Trump Media & Technology Group last year and would divest from the company if confirmed.
According to OpenSecrets, a campaign finance watchdog, Linda and Vince McMahon contributed over $20 million to support Trump’s election efforts last year, making them among his largest financial backers.
