Linda McMahon says ‘congressional action’ needed to downsize or eliminate Department of Education

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) asked McMahon about the prospect of cutting down or eliminating the department.

"Yes or no, do you agree that, since the department was created by Congress, it would need an act of Congress to actually close the Department of Education?" Cassidy asked.

"Certainly President Trump understands that," McMahon responded, adding, "We'll be working with Congress. We'd like to do this right. We'd like to make sure that we are presenting a plan that I think our senators could get on board with, and our Congress could get on board with that would have a better functioning Department of Education but certainly does require congressional action.” It has been reported that Trump is planning on eliminating the department altogether with an executive order.

McMahon spoke about her passion for education, as well as school choice in her opening statements, making an appeal to her own experience as a mother having children in school. She addressed the rise of crime and student suicide rates on campus as well as the decline school childrens' performance around the country.

"Fund education freedom, not government run systems. Listen to parents, not politicians. Build up careers, not college debt. Empower states, not special interests. Invest in teachers, not Washington bureaucrats. If confirmed as Secretary, I will work with Congress to reorient the department toward helping educators, not controlling him," McMahon commented in her statements.

She said that school choice "offers teachers and parents an alternative to classrooms that are micromanaged from Washington, DC" and advocated for a more deregulated system.